Ranking Low's Discography (Worst to Best)

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Low, the legendary slowcore band from Duluth, MN, has been one of my favorite bands for years upon years. No fewer than four of their records are in my top 300 of all time, with another very close behind. While the genre of slowcore may be (superficially) seen as dour and unenergetic, Low's particular brand mixes gorgeous, heart-stopping melodies and vocal harmonies with lush instrumentation that may provide a more accessible entry into the genre for the uninitiated and curious. They were often downtrodden, but there is always beauty to spare in their music. It was truly a great loss to the world when Mimi died and Low was no more; however, we will always have their work to remember them by.

Below, I've ranked Low's discography from least favorite to favorite. I hope this list encourages you to check out this brilliant band!

13. The Invisible Way  ||  Released 2013  ||  My least favorite Low record, but by no means bad. Its focus on acoustic guitar and sparse piano were a new direction for the band to take. It's sad, pretty, and simple, but ultimately leaves me wanting more.  Favorite song: Just Make It Stop. Rating: 6/10

12. Drums and Guns  ||  Released 2007  ||  Lyrically, this is a meditation on war. Not very subtle at all, but serviceable on that level. Instrumentally, it's minimalistic and eerie. At times it even strays into ambient pop, with low mixed textures creeping along. I don't love it, but it's pretty good, even if a little one note. Favorite song: Murderer. Rating: 6/10

11. Ones and Sixes  ||  Released 2015  ||  A really good indie rock/slowcore fusion that showcases Low's knack for catchy, smooth melodies and melancholy instrumental stylings. The reason it ranks lower on the list is that this sound was pulled off better earlier in their career, but it's definitely worthwhile. Favorite song: Lies. Rating: 7/10

10. Secret Name  ||  Released 1999  ||  A transitional record, and the end of an era of Low. While it's on, it's entrancingly beautiful and heartfelt, but after it's over it tends to slip somewhat from my mind, leaving a nice impression without much substance. Still, a very pretty journey on the way to Low's second best record. Favorite song: Two-Step. Rating: 7.5/10

9. Long Division  ||  Released 1995  ||  One of Low's most depressive records, which is saying a lot. A follow-up to their masterpiece of a debut, this one was a little disappointing to me on first listen, but over time I've come to appreciate it more. There's quite a bit of "filler" here, but even at its most inessential this record leaves a mark. Depressing, lonely and heavy, but all the better for it. Favorite song: Violence. Rating: 8/10

8. C'mon  ||  Released 2011  ||  An underrated gem in Low's discography. The sound is full and strong, the melodies clean and distinct, and, while lacking the raw power of some earlier records, it manages to be captivating and heartfelt while still being of the more "modernized Low" sound they had crafted for themselves. Favorite song: Especially Me. Rating: 8/10

7. The Curtain Hits the Cast  ||  Released 1996  ||  Some Low fans would look askance at me for ranking this record this low, which just goes to show how good it is. Here, Low's original goal of ambition, bittersweet melancholy and determined perseverance are on full display. The instrumentation is grand and sweeping, the lyrics full of sad commiseration, and the vocal harmonies are stellar. Still, something is missing here...it's actually really hard for me to put my finger on...perhaps it just lacks a certain degree of memorability that comes from the best of the band's work. Still, this is highly recommended. Favorite song: Over the Ocean. Rating: 8/10

6. Double Negative  ||  Released 2018  ||  The evolution of Low's "modern" sound starts to take shape, becoming somewhat amorphous while retaining beautiful melody and harmony. It's glitchy, experimental and strange, but Low succeeded in becoming something they never had been previous here. The effect is quite impressive. Before their most recent record dropped, this was already a favorite of mine, but now I see it as it really is...a step in an evolution that has come to a head. Favorite song: Fly. Rating: 8/10

5. The Great Destroyer  ||  Released 2005  ||  A more muscular, driven type of record, The Great Destroyer is Low's ultimate indie rock album. Containing catchy riffs mixed with typically effective vocal stylings from both Mimi Parker and Alan Sparhawk, this is Low at their most immediate and in-your-face. Brilliant record. Favorite song: Monkey. Rating: 9/10

4. Trust  ||  Released 2002  ||  The band's 6th record, Trust, is a lethargic but powerful beast of an album. Its sprawling ambition is combined with the smooth production of 2000s Low at its finest. The songwriting is consistently intriguing, and Mimi's vocals on this record are my favorite of hers in Low's whole discography. The drums are deep and distant, giving a sense of scope to the project, and variouws instruments from strings, to piano and keyboard, make appearances all over. One of the finest Low ever put out. Favorite track: The Lamb. Rating: 9.5/10

3. Things We Lost In the Fire  ||  Released 2001  ||  An atmospheric and melancholic record, and their second best. There a unique musical palette to dip from here, from swelling strings, dirge-like drums, and of course the haunting vocals. This is also very nearly Low's best written album, feeling tight and cohesive, while each song has a bit to offer in the overall experience. This is perhaps the album I'd recommend starting with (assuming you haven't already!) The sound is more universal than on some records, but it's still ambitious and varied. Classic record. Favorite song: Sunflower. Rating: 9.5/10

2. I Could Live In Hope  ||  Released 1994  ||  Low's debut record is, without a doubt, among the finest that slowcore has to offer. It's incredibly poetic, sad, and beautiful (an adjective I've used a lot in this post, but here it is as true as it can be). It's also mellow and peaceful, while still retaining a shaded edge of  desperation, as if the bandmembers are clutching desperately for something to stop the fall over the cliff that is under us all. Instrumentally, it's incredibly cohesive; this album is an experience, above all else. Every time I listen to one track, I feel I need to spin the whole record from the beginning. It's dark, melancholic, atmospheric, and one of the best records of all time, no question for me. Favorite song: Words. Rating: 10/10

1. HEY WHAT  ||  Released 2021  ||  Continuing what Double Negative started three years earlier, HEY WHAT was Low late career masterpiece. It's their most experimental and boundary-pushing, with the group's trademark genre of slowcore all but obscured by curtains of hissing static, pulsing synths, ambient textures and industrial trappings. However, under all this ambitious experimentation, there lies the same masterful sense of melody and songwriting we've come to expect. The duality of the strange and cold, and the beauty and stately, is something to behold, and will leave its mark in musical history as Low's last - and best - work. Favorite song: White Horses. Rating: 10/10