Christmas Records, Day 6: Low's Christmas
Low - Christmas (Kranky, released 1999)
The inherent theology behind Christmas (the event) dictates that only rare artists with prominent religious leanings truly seem to capture the spirit of the season in music. Put simply, they need to believe for you to follow suit. The decade-old Christmas EP from famously Mormon 'slowcore' pioneers Low is one prime indie-rock triumph. Seamlessly interchanging originals with standards, they mine every emotion associated with the time of year - instead of mindless joy - with beguilingly childlike innocence. For butterflies-jangling expectation, see Just Like Christmas; Blue Christmas is laced with the melancholy of a sometimes-deflating month; Taking Down the Tree distils empty post-12 days lows when cold New Year months are all that remains to anticipate. "Despite the commerce involved," Low collectively chirp in the sleeve-notes, "we hope you will consider this our gift to you." Faced with such timelessly sweet sentiments, baby Jesus himself might have shed a tear.
Comment number 1.
At 15:43 4th Dec 2009, smallnumbers wrote:Still a gem...
...'Long Way Around The Sea' is possibly the bleakest, spookiest 'Christmas' song ever but still sends shivers down the old spine when the harmonies kick in, on loud.
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