The Low Anthem

Rising to the top of the Folk/Indie Rock scene like the fat from clarified butter, The Low Anthem may have actually made the most beautiful song ever written. Originating from Rhode Island, the band has been increasing in popularity since the release of their third album, Oh My God Charlie Darwin. The band sweat their way through their first two self-released albums. But their toil paid off when Nonesuch Records agreed to re-release this gem, adding significantly to distribution. Their growing fame is the stuff of Cinderella stories. They used to volunteer to pick up trash for the Newport Folk Festival, but in 2009, they played to the masses.

I became an instant fan of The Low Anthem only 30 seconds after hearing them. Driving home from work, listening to NPR, I was so impressed by them that I went straight to my computer and immediately downloaded Oh My God Charlie Darwin from the iTunes store, something I had never done before.

The album’s title track commands the undivided attention of its listeners and cannot be broken until the last note rings out. It may be, as mentioned above, the most beautiful song ever written. The trance-like rhythm combined with the layers upon layers of instruments is both haunting and mesmerizing. The song’s vocal arrangement is what I imagine endangered species sing like as their environment is being destroyed by humans.  It is truly a masterpiece and far surpasses The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations for musical perfection.

The song, Horizon is a Beltway is distinctly Tom Waits inspired, but make no mistake, this is no copycat. The Low Anthem may pay homage to the gravel-voiced folk singer, but they build their own style into their compositions.  Beltway is a perfect example of the varying style on this album. Songs range from melancholy Americana Folk to Mississippi front porch rock ‘n’ roll.

There are more layers on this album than a French pastry. The band boasts the use of over 27 instruments, including a Tibetan singing-bull, but in a recent NPR interview with Guy Raz, it was revealed that they “may have inflated that number a bit for the press.” The exact number used is irrelevant when listening to the album’s deep resonance. Whether one or one hundred instruments, Oh my God Charlie Darwin evokes an emotional connection that puts the real life button on pause for forty-five minutes.

For more information on shows dates or tours visit www.lowanthem.com.

The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin