Biography
Low were an American band formed in early 1993 in Duluth, Minnesota, by the married couple Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker.[2] Early critics called their sound "slowcore," a label the band disliked, and both members were practicing Latter-day Saints.[2]
Their albums included I Could Live in Hope (1994), Secret Name (1999), Trust (2002), The Great Destroyer (2005, their first on Sub Pop), Double Negative (2018) and Hey What (2021).[2] Over time the group moved from sparse minimalism toward heavily processed, distorted textures, working with producer BJ Burton on their last three records.[1][2]
Sparhawk and Parker, with bassist Zak Sally (who played with the band from 1994 to 2005), also made a record for the holidays: the Christmas EP, released on Kranky in November 1999 as a gift to fans.[3] The band's own site describes it as stretching their minimalism toward a warmer, more festive sound.[4]
Parker was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in late 2020 and died on November 5, 2022.[2] Hey What is widely regarded as the band's final album.[1]
References
- Hey What (Wikipedia) — Album background, track placement, singles, production, critical reception.
- Low (band) (Wikipedia) — Band formation, members, faith, discography, Mimi Parker's diagnosis and death.
- Christmas (Low EP) — Release details, track list, label, running time and critical ratings for the 1999 EP, plus the earlier 1997 holiday single.
- Low, Christmas (Alan Sparhawk discography) — Describes the EP as a warmer extension of Low's minimalism and the song's guitar, brushed drums and sleigh bells.