Pitchfork

Duluth, Minn. veterans Low laid down their Daytrotter session the night they kicked off their North American tour opening for Wilco, in support of David Fridmann-produced new album Drums and Guns. The session's four tracks are all culled from the new record, and the alchemical process that turns studio tracks into nightly crowd-pleasers is already in evidence. With ragged guitars and live drums replacing the original's subtle synthetics, the grimly resigned "Breaker" sounds less like Yo La Tengo than like Neil Young and Crazy Horse, living with war. "Violent Past" unfolds gently, the quiet harmonies of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker contrasting with the human disconnect of the lyrics. "In Silence" rises out of the downcast rubble on a crest of cymbals, while "Sandinista" marches along bleakly with its martial snares. The setlist is similar to Low's Minnesota Public Radio appearance, and another document of a seasoned band awakening from a tough time.

MP3s:> Low: "Breaker" / "Violent Past" / "In Silence" / "Sandinista"
[Drums and Guns is out now on Sub Pop]