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October 22, 2009

New Low Anthem Video - "Charlie Darwin" (Stereogum Premiere)

thumbnail icon: New Low Anthem Video - "Charlie Darwin" (Stereogum Premiere)

The solemn, solitary pathos in Glenn Taunton and Simon Taffe's animated video for Low Anthem's "Charlie Darwin" adds another layer of melancholia to the track, offering an affecting visual counterpart to Ben Knox Miller's fragile falsetto: "Who could heed the words of Charlie Darwin / Fighting for a system built to fail / Spooning water from their broken vessels / As far as I can see there is no land." (The main character's sad, unchanging eyes are weirdly depressing.) The song's from the Rhode Island folk-rock group's Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, their third album (and Nonesuch debut). If you're unfamiliar with the group, fans of Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes should take note. Fans of Low, too.

Oh My God, Charlie Darwin is out via Nonesuch. They're currently playing some shows.

10/23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour #
10/24 - San Diego, CA @ Casbah #
10/25 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush #
10/27 - Houston, TX @ House Of Blues #
10/28 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater #
10/29 - Austin, TX @ The Parish #
10/30 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon #
11/02 - Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder #
11/03 - Orlando, FL @ The Social #
11/04 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl #
11/05 - Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge #
11/06 - Asheville, NC @ University of North Carolina #
11/07 - Norfolk, VA  @ Attucks Theater #
11/09 - Carrboro, NC @ Cats Cradle #
11/10 - Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern #
11/11 - Washington, D.C. @ The Black Cat #
11/12 - Boston, MA  @ Paradise Rock Club #
12/01 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club %
12/02 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of The Living Arts %
12/03 - Northampton, MA @ Calvin Theatre %
12/04 - Burlington, VT @ University Of Vermont %

# w/ Blind Pilot
% w/ Josh Ritter

Posted at 2:21 PM by brandon in ,
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51 Comments

I'd also add there's a bit of a folkier side to Springsteen in their more uptempo songs. Great album none the less!

Posted by: Michael_ profile link at 10/22/09 2:41 PM  | Reply
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Saw them premier this in Providence last week - very cool video

Posted by: Scott at 10/22/09 7:31 PM  | Reply
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This is great, I love it! I really appreciate all the work that went into animating it - especially the water.

Posted by: Amanda profile link at 10/23/09 1:10 AM  | Reply
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i seriously did not want that to end. a depressingly underrated band, for sure.

Posted by: Cody profile link at 10/23/09 1:28 AM  | Reply
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Saw them twice in the uk. Their harmonies are sublime. Video is nice and brooding.

Posted by: xenomorph at 10/23/09 7:52 AM  | Reply
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Great band, great video, really works for the song I think. Looking forward to seeing them again at The Tabernacle!

Posted by: Anthony Chalmesr at 10/23/09 8:23 AM  | Reply
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Beautiful music video, fits so well with song. The art behind it all is so magical!

Posted by: Tom at 10/23/09 8:28 AM  | Reply
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Lovely, haunting song. Beautiful video. That animated water must've been a labour of love :)

Posted by: Sebastian at 10/23/09 9:21 AM  | Reply
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Really like the song, and the video just adds to the mood of the music!

Posted by: Tobias at 10/23/09 9:35 AM  | Reply
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Great band, great song, great video. The fish in the water! Nice little touch.

Saw the band in Texas and UK this year, very good. Amazed it's only three people making some of the songs.

Posted by: Richard at 10/23/09 11:51 AM  | Reply
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Great band. Seen them a few times and they are always excellent.

Posted by: Noah at 10/23/09 12:00 PM  | Reply
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That was beautiful. Not sure how I let these guys fall under my radar, but I want to check them out after watching that.

Posted by: Deezey profile link at 10/23/09 4:06 PM  | Reply
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I only wish I had this E-Mail the day before, I would have gone to the Troubadour !

Posted by: Greg at 10/24/09 8:08 AM  | Reply
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Great video. Heard The Low Anthem for the first time at Hyde Park in July - bought the 'Oh My God, Charlie Darwin' CD as soon as I got home. Love it. When will the band be back in London?

Posted by: Tricia profile link at 10/24/09 5:13 PM  | Reply
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Brilliant, like the falsetto in this track. Ben's got an impressive range of styles.
2 gigs in November in London- one's already sold out though. You can see on their site.

Posted by: Edd  in reply to Tricia's comment at 10/24/09 7:54 PM  | Reply
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Great sounds here. Looking forward to seeing (and hearing) more from you guys. Video suits the piece perfectly. Top stuff

Posted by: Sean at 10/24/09 9:00 PM  | Reply
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there's some serious auto tune on this song.

Posted by: Victor Pokorny at 10/25/09 12:26 AM  | Reply
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Yea, i hear their dance routines aren't choreographed by them either...

Posted by: Edd  in reply to Victor Pokorny's comment at 10/25/09 7:11 AM  | Reply
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I highly doubt it. I don't hear anything and I'm extremely sensitive to auto tune. Plus if you've ever heard them live you'd know that he sounds exactly like that. Unbelievable vocalist.

Posted by: deadman  in reply to Victor Pokorny's comment at 10/26/09 12:15 PM  | Reply
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This video is such a work of art.. their show in l.a. riday night was incredible - see them live the next chance you get.

Posted by: Anonymous at 10/25/09 3:42 AM  | Reply
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wow !
I just LOVE that video !

Posted by: claire lemon at 10/25/09 5:23 AM  | Reply
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The video's just lovely - really captures the slow loneliness of the song.

Posted by: Alice at 10/25/09 7:05 AM  | Reply
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Great video fits the song so well very patient how did they animate water?

Posted by: Jack Dylan at 10/25/09 11:16 AM  | Reply
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I have to admit I have watched this several times now, as it's just so magical. I feel like I have been taken away to a dream world for a short while. Love the song and the video is just perfect!

Posted by: Pixie G at 10/25/09 1:56 PM  | Reply
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Its well book.. Very stirring

Posted by: Crazy Horse at 10/25/09 5:14 PM  | Reply
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What a beautiful ,love the stop motion must have taken forever

Posted by: Stoked at 10/25/09 5:17 PM  | Reply
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This stop motion movie fits the song perfectly. I found it relaxing but powerful at the same time.
Seeing the movement of water always puts me into deep thought.

Posted by: Fairy at 10/26/09 4:40 AM  | Reply
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A haunting song with a perfectly matched video - I'll be looking out for more!

Posted by: Gingerella at 10/26/09 5:05 AM  | Reply
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I love the song and the video, both really beautiful.

Posted by: Charlotte at 10/26/09 5:30 AM  | Reply
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Lovely song, really atmospheric and hypnotic to listen to. Video is beautiful, so well done and enchanting!

Posted by: Harriet at 10/26/09 5:44 AM  | Reply
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this is stunning

Posted by: Anonymous at 10/26/09 2:55 PM  | Reply
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I LOVE this!!
Great video, great song, great band...

1,000 litres of wallpaper paste.

Posted by: ross Morrison at 10/26/09 3:07 PM  | Reply
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I LOVE IT ...........

Great band........ have seen them very many times, and will see them again and again !!
Video is VERY VERY creative....
Good Luck
Larry Ameen

Posted by: Larry Ameen at 10/26/09 6:21 PM  | Reply
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Completely mesmerizing. Beautiful song. how did they do that water?

Posted by: john adams at 10/26/09 10:53 PM  | Reply
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What an awesome video! I love this band and it's great to see them come through with a video that befits such a great track

Posted by: Dave Williams at 10/27/09 5:37 AM  | Reply
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jesus.. amazing video

Posted by: jesus at 10/27/09 6:21 AM  | Reply
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I cant imagine how long this video would have taken it amazing

Posted by: Fancy Flaps at 10/27/09 12:57 PM  | Reply
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Great song and excellent animation, can't wait to see more.

Posted by: Jason Fraser at 10/27/09 1:53 PM  | Reply
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The vocals are way too beautiful for me to pay attention to anything else. Lyrics, a video, where I'm driving, that sort of thing.

Posted by: Matthew profile link at 10/27/09 4:51 PM  | Reply
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Fantastic band, fantastic video. Saw them twice over the summer - they have great chemistry and an excellent sound. Their first full length is just as good as this release.

Posted by: Anthony at 10/27/09 11:53 PM  | Reply
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That gave me chills!

Posted by: Chris at 10/28/09 7:53 AM  | Reply
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i think it's awesome that this post is the third most commented on, and there has been no arguing whatsoever...

...yet...

Posted by: Cody profile link at 10/28/09 11:36 PM  | Reply
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I disagree! ;)

Posted by: xenomorph  in reply to Cody's comment at 10/29/09 6:19 AM  | Reply
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APPARENTLY THERE IS A MAKING OF THE VIDEO... VIDEO... WHICH SOUNDS LIKE IT'LL BE INCREDIBLY INTERESTING TO WATCH.

Posted by: Ross Morrison at 10/29/09 2:03 PM  | Reply
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this is fucking dull.

Posted by: not your parents at 10/29/09 6:03 PM  | Reply
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this has to be the best video I have seen all year that and the Beyonce one

Posted by: John tong at 11/01/09 11:58 AM  | Reply
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Kanye would heartily agree.

Posted by: Edd  in reply to John tong's comment at 11/03/09 11:55 AM  | Reply
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i CANT BELEIVE i MISSED THIS BAND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SONG

Posted by: stewart Guy at 11/01/09 5:48 PM  | Reply
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What a cool viideo and beautiful song...

Posted by: Matt Burkowski at 11/02/09 4:13 AM  | Reply
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Wow, beautifully melancholic... Great work, both the animation and the music.

Posted by: Dharma at 11/02/09 11:23 AM  | Reply
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uniquely beautiful song + video

Posted by: geoff ellis at 11/03/09 2:44 PM  | Reply
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