The Low Anthem
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
(self-released)
release: September 2, 2008
style: Americana folk-rock
[rating: ***1/2] The guitar picking and harmonica of Rhode Island's the Low Anthem figures into two sides of the band on Oh My God. Both ways work, though it may have made more sense if the band did two separate records instead of going quiet to loud to quiet every couple songs. I guess you can sort them out on your iTunes. No matter, the Low Anthem is effective and adept at both quiet Americana and folk-rock that meets gruffy, gritty blues. "Home I'll Never Be" (by Waits/Kerouac) offers up a look at the band's influences and that cover feels like the group's own. -Kenyon