Is Double Negative a good place to start with Low?

Yes, Double Negative is recommended as a starting point for new Low listeners. A dissonant blend of fractured noise and hypnotic melodies that challenges traditional song structures while maintaining emotional depth. When Low released Double Negative in September 2018, they were well into their third decade as a band, following 2015's Ones and Sixes. This album marked a significant shift in their sound, embracing experimental textures and production techniques that departed from their earlier minimalism. It showcased the duo's willingness to evolve artistically, integrating elements of electronic music into their established alternative rock foundation.

Who is Double Negative for?

Double Negative works well if you're into steady pacing with gradual evolution, disorienting soundscapes for deep focus and haunting harmonies for introspective moments.

How many songs are on Double Negative?

Double Negative has 11 tracks, running approximately 48 minutes.

Double Negative

Low · 2018

48 min · 11 tracks · alternative rock

A dissonant blend of fractured noise and hypnotic melodies that challenges traditional song structures while maintaining emotional depth.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Quorum Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
→
Dancing and Blood — This track exemplifies the album's tension between chaotic soundscapes and poignant lyricism, capturing the emotional core of the record.
→
Always Trying to Work It Out — With its haunting vocal delivery layered over distorted instrumentation, this song illustrates the band's exploration of vulnerability amidst turmoil.
→
Disarray — The song encapsulates the album’s themes of confusion and fragmentation through its erratic structure, showcasing Low's ability to convey complex emotions musically.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

The album's experimental sound and emotional depth create a unique listening experience that rewards repeated plays.

What we noticed

Tracks frequently shift in dynamics, with sudden drops to silence or minimal instrumentation that contrast sharply with the more chaotic sections.
Vocals are often treated with effects, blending into the instrumentation rather than standing out, which challenges conventional song structures.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 9/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady pacing with gradual evolution
disorienting soundscapes for deep focus
haunting harmonies for introspective moments
consistent development across tracks

Maybe skip if you

seeking upbeat instant gratification
prefer standalone catchy tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Experimental — Marks a significant departure in sound, challenging traditional structures and expectations.
Themes: fractured soundscapes· emotional turmoil· experimental textures
Career context: When Low released Double Negative in September 2018, they were well into their third decade as a band, following 2015's Ones and Sixes. This album marked a significant shift in their sound, embracing experimental textures and production techniques that departed from their earlier minimalism. It showcased the duo's willingness to evolve artistically, integrating elements of electronic music into their established alternative rock foundation.
Stylistic neighbors: The National· Red House Painters· Bon Iver