In Stores Now: C'mon by Low

Illustration titled "With a Lusty Cheer They Bid Good-by to the Ship", cover of Beadle's Half Dime Library Vol. XL, No. 1020, February 2nd, 1897

The best rock band from Duluth is back (yeah, I said "best" - I don't care what the Black-Eyes Snakes' fans think!) with their third Sub Pop album, and it's interesting to see how Low's nine full-length fit into three fairly tidy trilogies. The first three albums on Vernon Yard exist in their own universe of "space between the notes", while the Kranky trilogy stand as the band's apex for most casual fans of the band. The three albums for Sub Pop have traded focus for eclecticism, and C'mon is arguably the best distillation of the band's highlights over seventeen years of making records.

C'mon actually reminds me a lot of Trust, my least favorite of the Kranky albums, but it hits the bulls-eye that the earlier album overshot by a fair distance, nailing every feeling and melodic turn just right. It has some very accessible moments, as well as a couple tracks like "$20" and "Majesty/Magic" that bring the oppressive drone of Trust's longer tracks. But the key elements of C'mon for me are 1) Mimi Parker taking a prominent role with excellent lead vocal performances for the first time in a couple years (nailing it on "You See Everything" and "Especially Me", and 2) the album has great sequencing. The penultimate epic "Nothing But Heart" is a highlight not only because Nels Cline's Neil-Young guitar heroics - Parker's unexpected counter-melody, which enters the mix at the six-minute mark, seems awkward at first but then meshes with the arrangement perfectly to kick the song to a higher plane. And then the album ends on a sweet note with the simple and cute "Something's Turning Over", which features the Sparhawk children on backing vocals.

I wouldn't have expected Low's ninth album to be the best entry point into their work for new fans, but it may just be that. And, with their third trilogy complete, I'm interested to see if Low jumps to another label to start fresh yet again.

"Especially Me" by Low