Just Backward of Square

Just Backward of Square Artist: Lowgold
Label: Import [Generic]
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 5023687170120
ASIN: B000056UQS


Release Date: 2001-02-15

Just Backward of Square


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Tracks:

  1. Golden Ratio
  2. Beauty Dies Young
  3. Mercury
  4. Out of Reach
  5. Back Here Again
  6. Counterfeit
  7. Never Alone
  8. In Amber
  9. Open the Airwaves
  10. Less I Offer
  11. Into the Void

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Amazon.com

Few debut albums sound as lived-in as Lowgold's <I>Just Backward of Square</I>, which has a depth of thought, a wealth of experience and an aching that most acts take decades to find. As it is, the four--who sound like they are straight out of the Midwest but come from England's Poole, St. Albans, and South London--got it just so the first time around. By rights, their somber road-movie rock should be both demoralizing and depressing; certainly, there's very little to smile about in lyrics like "Make the most of today/ For beauty dies young" ("Beauty Dies Young") and "My lungs may be bleeding/ So I breathe in mercury/ Decay" ("Mercury"). But there's also a hint of hope and a glint of optimism in Darren Ford's voice as he sings these songs of introspection, and there's positive and reassuring power to the dragging guitars and plodding bass. That there is hope in the darkest tunes is where the maturity and magic of <I>Just Backward of Square</I> lies. It took Blur a decade to discover the secret of soul-searching, country-folk rock, and still they can't hold a candle to this. <I>--Dan Gennoe</I>

Album Description

Debut full length for UK indie act winning raves in NME and Melody Maker. Tracks include, 'In Amber' off their debut '108 EP' and their second single, 'Beauty Dies Young'. Featuring production by Tony Lash (Dandy Warhols and Quasi) their music is described as, 'sad songs that make you feel good'. Nude Records. 2000 release. Tri-fold paper sleeve.

Album Details

Debut LP from fuzztoned Bournemouth outfit, keen on leftfield Americana but also hailed as 'the new Coldplay'.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Don't buy it because you like Coldplay, buy b/c it's great.......2004-12-06

Just because you like Coldplay, Travis, Doves, and bands of their "ilk" does not mean you will like Lowgold's "Just Backward of Square." You will, however, grow to love this album if you give it the time it deserves. There are many similarities between Coldplay and Lowgold, but the main difference in my opinion is that, while both bands take you down to the lowest emotional depths, Coldplay does it to bring you back with hopeful, soaring choruses...Lowgold leaves you down, and I love it. These are some of the most emotionally gut-wrenching songs ever recorded, but it won't hit you until you've listened to it a couple times, and then it will hit you like a ton of bricks, probably driving by yourself in the car, feeling lonely, thinking about an old girlfriend (or boyfriend), and then you will be suddenly overcome with an overwhelming familiarity. Have I heard this song somewhere before? In a movie? In a television show? No, you haven't heard it before. It's just that Lowgold is so successful in connecting with the emotional lows of life that when you really LISTEN to it (not just listen to it, you know what I mean), the album gives off an eerily familiar aura. There is no comfort here, only dispair, and if you are not OK with that, then this album is not for you. There is a redundancy in many of the songs that will sound boring at first, and then (like most great albums) will grow into an addictive motif. The vocals sound like a man off the street, not a choir boy, and it's the perfect match to the down-to-earth music. Highly recommended overall...

4 out of 5 stars Underrated is an Understatement.......2004-10-12

Yeah, I think I understood what I just said. I was completely shocked at the review given by All Music Guide. I don't know if the reviewer has something personal against this group or thier album but he was far too harsh in my opinion.

Given the list price of the album I can understand how people can get upset over this purchase, but pretending you paid the average CD price it is a good album. I think some people are also disappointed because of the overall slowcore vibe. I think it was best that these tracks stayed simple and mellow. This album might not also be suited for a casual listener. With only a bare minimum of catchy tunes I don't recommend this to someone with little patience or appreciation of subtle melodies.

Obviously it all boils down to personal preference. I'm a big fan of britpop in general and I love this album. I know this wouldn't appeal to many people trying to jump on the whole British Invasion bandwagon by listening to Coldplay, Oasis, or Keane. The tracks I'd recommend you listen to before you buy are "Beauty Dies Young", "In Amber", "Never Alone", and "Out of Reach". If you don't enjoy those then you won't enjoy the rest. They're pretty much representative of the album. Whether you like this or not I think that this is the perfect "marination" album if you get my drift.

2 out of 5 stars Don't buy this unheard.......2003-09-23

I really enjoy Doves, Coldplay, and Blur, and so I bought this at a large music store in my area that has a lot of imports. Well, this album dulled me no end. Sure, all the songs have some merit, but they all just seem like something I've heard before, only not as good. Being an import, I spent around $27 on this, only because Amazon didn't have any sample tunes and neither did the music store - all I had were the reviews you see on this page. You may like this - I didn't. I'm not going to tell you not to waste your money on this; this may be the best thing you have ever heard. It's all about taste, after all. I'm just sorry I belived what I read here.

5 out of 5 stars another great melancholy british rock album.......2002-01-25

For a huge fan of Travis, Coldplay, and Doves this album was a tremendous find on the States side. Not many albums come along with this character and consistency and as an American listener, who ventures outside of what is popular (aka MTV & FM), this album ranks up there with Parachutes and The Man Who as a true gift for fans of melancholy british rock. There is no good reason why this album hasn't caught on in the US yet!

5 out of 5 stars

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