Low's seventh full-length album, THE GREAT DESTROYER, marks a literal departure for the Duluth, Minnesota trio, with the band leaving its longtime label, Kranky, in favor of uber-indie taste-makers, Sub Pop. The overall sound of the record reflects the transition, as Low hits new heights in both volume and aggression, particularly on the fuzzed-out "Monkey" and the swelling "Everybody's Song." During "On the Edge Of" and "When I Go Deaf," guitarist Alan Sparhawk unleashes gloriously distorted Neil Young-worthy leads, while "Broadway (So Many People)" balances amped-up rock with the group's trademark hushed melodies. Those looking for Low's renowned hypnotic "slowcore" sound will find it carefully mixed into different forms, with only "Silver Rider" clearly recalling the band's formative mid-1990s era. Like past Low releases, THE GREAT DESTROYER still uses Sparhawk's gorgeous vocal harmonies with drummer Mimi Parker as its centerpiece, but this is the only true constant here, making for a refreshingly dynamic album. For listeners who might have written Low off as a one-note band, this is the record that proves them wrong. Format: Vinyl Genre: Pop
