The musical journey of Low, one of our site's favourite bands, came to an abrupt end with Mimi Parker's untimely passing last November. This challenge was a great chance to dive into their beautiful discography, discover some new favourites and renew our love for their classics.
As posted for the #Low15 Twitter challenge which ran during March 2023.
15. "Death of a Salesman" (The Great Destroyer, 2005)
I love the lyrics and the comforting, repeating melody, and also had the privilege of witnessing a gripping performance of it in Athens.
14. "Just Make It Stop" (The Invisible Way, 2013)
By their standards, this song is at breakneck speed. It picks up intensity as it goes but, thanks to Mimi's voice, it never gets too much and remains gorgeous throughout.
13. "You See Everything" (C'Mon, 2011)
It was very hard to decide between this and "Especially Me", but the more laid-back melody of the verses gave it the nod. And it's not even my favourite song from this amazing album.
12. "Gentle" (Ones and Sixes, 2015)
The light glitchy touches that colour the backbone of this song show the path they'd follow later on, along with producer BJ Burton. It so beautifully contrasts with the clarity of the rest of their sound.
11. "Just Like Christmas" (Christmas EP, 1999)
If there's one modern Christmas song you need to hear, this is it. A staple in our house since we discovered it, only this year it was much sadder than usual.
10. "Words" (I Could Live in Hope, 1994)
The song that introduced Low to the world perfectly showcased their early sound - stark and sparse, the lack of sonic urgency concealing the intensity underneath. So good.
9. "Monkey" (The Great Destroyer, 2005)
Critics may have happily lumped the "slowcore" label on them but, as fans know, they have way more than one trick up their sleeve. Here, they craft a perfectly straightforward rock song, without abandoning their brilliant harmonies.
8. "Nothing But Heart" (C'Mon, 2011)
One of the most striking traits of Low's music is the interminable patience that seems to have informed every note. They exhibit it in spades on this monster of a song, slowly building it up from a whisper to breathtaking thunder.
7. "Time Is the Diamond" (Trust, 2002)
Trust was the first Low album I bought, but it took me a few years to fully appreciate. This was one of the first songs to drag me in, a classic Low song with a melody that soothes your heart.
6. "Nightingale" (C'Mon, 2011)
I love the guitars on this song so much, and Alan's singing is amazing. Sandwiched between two big-sounding songs on the album, it balances out their intensity in the most beautiful way.
5. "Tonight" (Trust, 1996)
I can't think of another Low song that sounds like this one. The gorgeous, ghostly guitars (which remind me of a certain other band that I love) take it to another level, and Mimi's voice is, as always, out of this world.
4. "In Metal" (Things We Lost in the Fire, 2001)
The lyrics of this song always intrigued me, but it's true that only a parent can understand those conflicting feelings of wanting to see their child grow and also wanting to freeze time. It never fails to move me.
3. "Hey" (Hey What, 2021)
This pulsating, underwater-like masterpiece was the crown jewel of their latter-day evolution. Fate robbed us of the possibility to see where they'd go next but, as final releases go, it's one of the most impressive out there.
2. "Silver Rider" (The Great Destroyer, 2005)
I hadn't realised how beautiful this song is until last year. Sometimes you need to distance yourself from a song for a while, and Low songs do take their time revealing themselves, so when this hit me, it hit hard.
1. "Sunflower" (Things We Lost in the Fire, 2001)
The song that introduced me to Low is still my favourite. That bridge alone is worth the admission price, but it's all pretty much perfect.
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