A Lifetime of Temporary Relief: 10 Years of B-Sides and Rarities cover

A Lifetime of Temporary Relief: 10 Years of B-Sides and Rarities

Low · 2004

238 min · 56 tracks · alternative rock

A haunting collection of introspective melodies and raw, unpolished demos that define Low's unique sound.

Why this album works

This album is notable for its comprehensive look at Low's discography, featuring rare tracks that contributed significantly to their cult following. It received critical acclaim for showcasing the band's depth and range, reinforcing their influence on the slowcore genre and alternative music scene, evidenced by its positive reception from publications like Pitchfork.
Best for
wave-like pacing with introspection raw emotion in unpolished demos long listening for deep reflection
Context
By the time 'A Lifetime of Temporary Relief' was released in 2004, Low had established themselves as a prominent force in alternative rock with five studio albums under their belt. This compilation served both as a retrospective of their early career and a bridge to their later work, showcasing the band's evolution while highlighting lesser-known tracks and demos that fans had long sought after.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Lullaby (demo) 10:06
  • 2 Cut (demo) 5:41
  • 3 Heartbeat Standout 4:08
  • 4 Peanut Butter Toast and American Bandstand 2:23
  • 5 Tired 5:11
  • 6 I Started a Joke Standout 4:28
  • 7 The Plan (demo) 2:50
  • 8 Prisoner (demo) 6:10
  • 9 Prisoner Standout 3:48
  • 10 Tomorrow One 4:28
  • 11 Turning Over 7:49
  • 12 Bright 1:45
  • 13 Walk You Out 4:46
  • 14 Tear Down 4:48
  • 15 Standby 5:11
  • 16 David & Jude 1:22
  • 17 Cheek 3:24

Disc 2

  • 1 Venus 3:44
  • 2 Boyfriends & Girlfriends 6:06
  • 3 Surf 2:31
  • 4 No Need (version 1) 5:03
  • 5 Be There 8:28
  • 6 Lift 5:45
  • 7 Joan of Arc 3:21
  • 8 Long Long Long 3:50
  • 9 Lion/Lamb (demo) 3:50
  • 10 Will the Night (demo) 2:47
  • 11 Last Breath 4:47
  • 12 Joan of Arc (20 Below mix) 3:25
  • 13 Old Man Song 3:48
  • 14 Try Try Try 0:37
  • 15 Lord, Can You Hear Me? 6:24
  • 16 Venus (Time Stereo Dub mix) 3:51
  • 17 Those Girls (Song for Nico) 3:06
  • 18 [silence] 2:50
  • 19 Words (live, in Misfits style) 2:50
  • 20 Turn (live, in Misfits style) 1:03
  • 21 Over the Ocean (live, in Misfits style) 1:36

Disc 3

  • 1 I Remember 3:22
  • 2 Kindly Blessed 2:17
  • 3 Blue-Eyed Devil 5:02
  • 4 Sleep at the Bottom 4:54
  • 5 When You Walked 3:55
  • 6 Back Home Again 5:20
  • 7 Don’t Drop the Baby 4:02
  • 8 Surfer Girl 3:35
  • 9 Blowin’ in the Wind 3:49
  • 10 Open Arms 4:02
  • 11 …I Love 2:45
  • 12 Carnival Queen 5:13
  • 13 Overhead 4:33
  • 14 Don’t Carry It All 4:13
  • 15 Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me 3:58
  • 16 Because You Stood Still 5:33
  • 17 Fearless 6:20
  • 18 Shots & Ladders 2 6:47

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata