I do believe that The Low Anthem may be the first band from Rhode Island that I’ve ever heard and if they are any indication what that state has to offer musically, we’d all better start looking for more. On Oh My God, Charlie Darwin The Low Anthem starts off sounding like an amalgam of hushed folk and quiet high lonesome Americana (think Iron & Wine meets Band Of Horses) and it’s really great. But the band quickly changes directions into something much more raucous, more stomping, and almost a little gruff (this time think of The Avett Brothers or Graham Lindsey). It’s all a little schizophrenic as the songs on Oh My God, Charlie Darwin alternate between loud and quiet, but it’s also clear that this band of multi-instrumentalists added to and deconstructed these songs to bring out the best in them. The end result is a spellbinding album that just grabs hold and won’t let go. One of my favorites of 2009 for sure.

MP3:
The Low Anthem - Charlie Darwin
The Low Anthem - The Horizon Is A Beltway

Related posts:

1. Review: Gang Gang Dance – God’s Money (or) little blue plastic elephants
2. Review: All Time Low – So Wrong, It’s Right
3. Review: Low – Drums And Guns (or) blog is the new black
4. Review: The Gaslight Anthem – Senor and the Queen EP
5. The Heartless Bastards / The Gaslight Anthem / Good Old War – Live 4/3/09 @ The Bottom Lounge