Jim Payne
It is really tough to choose a "favorite" track off this album. There are several very strong tracks, and not any weak ones. I literally had a dream once, though, with "The Twin Lakes" serving as background music. That sort of solidified the personal impact that song has on me. I feel this band could be destined for greatness if enough people are able to hear them. Numerous tracks here could be perfect in television or film soundtracks. I'll be doing my part to share the word.
Favorite track: The Twin Lakes.
โThe way they play their pure heartland indie rock makes them sound overjoyed to be straining themselves to the edge of breakdown. Robby Haynes's guitar leads slither and boil like there's a glam god inside him trying to get out, and when singer Henry Joseph hits the occasional screechy note he could pass for Paul Westerberg going back to take a second try at puberty. Far too many bands think they're far too cool to play like this.โ
-๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฒ.
โI don't know why this local quartet has not been snapped up by a label when far less salable and likable indie pop bands are getting record deals but in any case the make a good test case for the equalizing effect of the internet. The Record Lowโs first full length, Here To Stay, which they put out earlier this year can be downloaded via itunes and Rhapsody or purchased the old fashioned way. But my guess is that their flavor of record collection rock - a weird hybrid of passive-aggressive 70โs chill and teeth grinding 80โs tension, with sweet croons and pealing guitars - will appeal to those with an appreciation for limited edition CDโs with hand silk screened cardboard covers.โ
- ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ7.
โLocal indie-rock band The Record Low had a somber, subtle new song come out over the summer called โWhat If Iโm Wrongโ that blew me away for many different reasons, from the gently performed vocals and harmonies to the prettily plucked guitars to the melancholy keyboard foundation to the straightforward, unexpectedly elegant drumming. The song, gorgeous, features a terrifically moving chorus in which only the songโs title is repeated, but the repetition is devastating as the desperation is driven home. Itโs a great song, one of my favorite tracks of the year, and one thatโs stayed with me since first listen. The band seems to be moving in more a reverb-heavy, open-space direction, which seems to suit them well.โ
- ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ต.
Even in unfinished form, the moody โTill Itโs Over,โ off the groupโs upcoming self-titled record (tonightโs show doubles as a release party), impresses, marrying lush, mossy guitar textures with the cold, steely click of programmed drums. That said, not even Haynes knows what the duoโs music will sound like moving forward. โI might like the way things sound now, but a little [time] passes and then youโre someone else,โ Haynes says. โAnd our music is a reflection of who we are. It changes constantly.โ
- ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฏ๐๐ป๐ฒ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ต.
โJust in the past week Iโve turned friends onto Chicago band, The Record Low. The song โThese Girlsโ is currently jockeying for the most repetitive song position. Listen to this song. Often. On repeat. Often. Non-stop even better.โ
- ๐๐๐ซ๐ฃ ๐๐น๐ผ๐ด, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ณ.
โThe Record Low probably know how to get some good shit. On its latest record, Away From Us, the duo is so fuzzed and blissed out that its members are either on expensive heroin or stumbling out of some weekend-long orgy, fully satiated.โ
- ๐.๐ฉ. ๐๐น๐๐ฏ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ.
Here To Stay
- ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ.๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ ๐ง๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐น๐ฏ๐๐บ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ณ (#๐ฐ๐ฎ).
โWhat If Iโm Wrongโ - The Record Low
- ๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ, ๐ง๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ต
โWhat If Iโm Wrongโ (Away From Us)
- ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ด๐ผ, ๐ง๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ
All Songs by The Record Low
credits
released May 1, 2010
Henry Joseph - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keys, Programming
Robert Haynes - Guitar, Bass, Keys, Programming
Mixed and Mastered by Steve Shirk @ Shirk Studio Chicago, IL
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