[Here we'll look at some things you probably passed up when you were a kid because you were too busy playing Star Wars with your friend who was actually a jerk… and who threw a tantrum when you schooled him in NHL ’96. What a little bitch. There are roots in the ground that still nurture.]

Long Division
Low
Vernon Yard, 1995
Produced by Kramer

Words by Christopher Carosi

It’s purdy cold in Duluth. On the banks of Lake Superior, the blood even freezes. Long Division is the sound of the love equation slowly slowly working itself out to its cold, logical conclusion. That’s purdy sad. What I’ve always liked about Low is that it sounds like they don’t give a shit if you’re listening. They would play the same down, brush-scratched, dark melodies until the cows actually came home and turned themselves into burgers. “Violence” is the vintage Low song, that crude guitar line gently riding the bass, poking out now and again to hook you, then crawl into its bedroom again. Mimi Parker’s beautiful voice kisses your ears like snow. When her and Alan Sparhawk harmonize (which is most often), one realizes the obvious similarity in heartbreak that exists in both sexes. Some of these songs are simply a plea, like “Throw Out the Line” or “Alone”: the musicianship is so minimal, the emotions whittled down to such a direct level, one can inhabit these dark corridors with such pleasure and ease. I think “Caroline” is one of the most complete songs ever written about a girl. Here’s the lyric:

Caroline
We don’t have much time
Caroline
We don’t have much time
Mercy lies
in the ones we hide

You don’t need to be outside
You can stand with me in line

The beauty of Sparhawk and Parker’s collaborative vocal rises up with the volume level from the very suggestion to this girl in the last stanza. It achieves such emotional strength and character.

Low / Violence
Low / Throw Out the Line
Low / Caroline

[Contributing writer Christopher Carosi takes a step back from all the current indie goodness and keeps us honest by taking a quick glance at some 90's albums that are a bit too old to be New Classics but still worth their weight in gold. This is part nineteen in a never-ending series]

Filed under: 90's Time, Not Blake, Jim, or Brendan