The Low Anthem Comes Up With Another Winner

The Low Anthem
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

At Firehouse 13 last Friday, The Low Anthem made the case for resurgent Northeastern folk with a celebratory set that transcended the sound problems in the sweaty art gallery. During the gutsy, propulsive set by Ben Pilgrim and the Free Union Band and the beautiful fragility of Annie Lynch and the Beekeepers, Ben Miller and Jeffrey Prystowsky acted as gregarious hosts as the crowd washed down free pizza with cheap beer. Finally at almost 11, Ben and Jeff joined Jocie Adams and a new drummer to debut their new album and highlights from last year's What the Crow Brings to an adoring crowd.

Don't worry too much if you missed the show though-their sophomore release Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is a deep record that holds up on car radios as well as it did on a cramped stage. It is definitely cut from the same melodic cloth as its predecessor, but The Low Anthem are taking more chances stylistically and lyrically. The words dwell in the duality between urban and rural America-perfect for a combo that recorded in Block Island but came home to Providence. "The Horizon is A Beltway" brings the imagery of apocalyptic folk into the skyscraper age with the doom-laden refrain of "the skyline's on fire" over wheezing harmonica. Elsewhere, "To Ohio" displays Ben Miller's beautiful vocals and Jeff Prystowsky's tasteful bass.

After several listens, their cover of Tom Waits' "Home I'll Never Be" emerges as the album's centerpiece. It sounds like an aging field recording made in the kind of bar that doesn't exist anymore. I almost wish they had recorded the Uncle Tupelo meets Rolling Stones barnburner of a rendition they played at Firehouse 13, but it's of little use to second guess a band like this. They know where they're going.

4.5/5