Low - just stand back, 2005

"Twenty years on, Low’s The Great Destroyer stands as a high-watermark in an truly impressive discography, but when it arrived in the early days of 2005, the reactions were mixed. People weren’t sure of this new loud Low, and there were those who felt it was the band abandoning their winning formula. Pitchfork even brutally gave it 5.5. Back in 2005, Low was a trio consisting of the married partners of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker, along with bassist Zak Sally. Previously known for minimalism and restraint, The Great Destroyer showed how Low could go big without undoing the band’s slowcore concept. The album was both the culmination of their trajectory as a trio as well as an obliteration of all previously set constraints. Time, however, is a funny thing. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that Low’s formula was always one of evolution, and The Great Destroyer is ripe for rediscovery as an essential stop on that transformative journey."