Lowest of the Low
This Morning
NoiseTrade
★★★★
Lowest of the Low is a beloved Toronto band that's been
around since the early 1990s, though they are woefully underappreciated south
of the border. When I say beloved, consider that their 1991 album Shakespeare My Butt often shows up on
lists of the top 20 Canadian rock albums of all time. To celebrate a recent
appearance on the Canadian Broadcasting System show "This Morning,"
the band has released an eponymous and free five-track sampling of back
catalogue material on the Website NoiseTrade.
Lowest of the Low is frequently billed as an indie rock
post-punk band, whatever that might mean. I think that's possibly because lead
singer Ron Hawkins has a voice that has a touch of Billy Bragg roughness to it,
though that's intentional and mainly his is just a very strong one. The fact
that the band's most famous record is puckishly but politely titled Shakespeare My Butt is a pretty good
indication that Lowest of the Low isn't really a punk band of any sort: pre, present,
or post. Theirs is actually a very melodic sound and Hawkins' vocals are clear
and tuneful, not snarly or off-key.
Two of the selections come from Shakespeare, including "Bleed a Little While Tonight,"
which did well on the Canadian pop charts. The only blood split in the song is
that of yearning. It is catchy and has an easy dance feel that's more sashay
than body slam. "Rosy and Grey" has crystalline clear electric guitar
lines the likes of which someone like Jerry Garcia used to lay down (when he
wasn't being sloppy). This too is a love song of sorts, though there is a
(possibly) naughty double entendre embedded within.
The other three tracks are from the band's 2017 release Do the Right Now. My favorite is
"Something to Believe In," which opens with Hawkins issuing an
earnest plea in a voice controlled and slightly louder than his guitar. This is
the kind of song I really like: small opening, slow build, and go big, yet
remain controlled and tuneful. The video for "Powerlines" is a pretty
neat aerial tour of The Six (a Toronto nickname referencing the six
"cities" that make up Toronto). The vid is actually a bit out of
character, as the eagle's eye view is usually high above the streets and features
that make our unnamed observer dream of a woman named Caroline. It's a great
tune, so I'll overlook that and a few forced rhymes. "California
Gothic" rounds off the EP.
I hope I don't offend anyone in saying this, but to me
Lowest of the Low ought to be labeled an indie/folk rock ensemble. But it doesn't
matter what tag you spray, Lowest of the Low is a fine band that deserves
attention on both sides of Lake Ontario.
Rob Weir
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