Low

Drums And Guns

[3.5/5] It shouldn’t be a surprise at this point that Low know how to write a spectacular album. What is, in fact, surprising is how over the course of the last two records, this Duluth, Minnesota, trio have demonstrated they can write several different types of spectacular records. Whereas the group once established themselves as purveyors of a whole new subgenre called “slow-core,” 2005’s The Great Destroyer proved the hushed outfit could also find their way around a distorted, somewhat bombastic rock record. Now, Drums And Guns arrives as one of the better nuanced and layered compositions we’re likely to see before 2007 ends. After a hauntingly pessimistic introduction, with singer Alan Sparhawk intoning the fatalistic end result of any life, however well or ill lived. Soldiers, liars and beautiful babies all meet the same, sorry end. It’s up to the listener whether there’s redemption to be found in what follows-a musically tender, lyrically brutal outing at least as potent as the best moments on Yo La Tengo’s I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One. (SUB POP) Mike McKee