CD REVIEW: The Low Anthem "Smart Flesh"

The Low Anthem is one of the most talented and hardest working in the business. That can onl,y lead to one thing: incredible music. Their newest album is their best yet, showcasing their many facets and developing their unique folk sound so that is is not only more accessible to listeners, but deeper and more profound than on prior releases. "Boeing 737" is the biggest surprise on the album, featuring an almost alternative rock feel, but still showcasing Ben Miller's incredible vocals. Their typical and more traditional folk songs are featured at their greatest on the album's first single "Ghost Woman Blues," which is as haunting as the title suggests, and the acoustic driven tracks "Apothecary Love" and "I'll Take Out Your Ashes." The band has the most fun on the song "Hey, All You Hippies!" is reminiscent of late sixties hippie jam band rock. The Low Anthem may not even be extensively on the radio, have songs in heavy rotation, or sell out huge stadiums, but the lack of these things is what makes the band and their music so special. This is the album that will reach out to fans of recent folk music breakouts such as Mumford & Sons and Ray LaMontagne and help to add the Low Anthem to the short list of current great folk artists.