• Record Label: Sub Pop
  • Release Date: Mar 19, 2013
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 20
  2. Negative: 1 out of 20
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  1. Mar 29, 2013
    10
    A perfect 20th anniversary present to all of us mature romantics who love the beautiful harmonies that Alan and Mimi bring to us when the twilight hour seems the most comforting.
  2. Mar 25, 2013
    10
    It would be quite nice...I would say. Generally, I'm not a big fan of sub pop/slowcore though, but this album has caught my attention. I pretty much think of this a a good making. And at least, enjoyable. And surprise surprise, I gave a 10. So buy it!
  3. Dec 23, 2017
    10
    My 1st Low album. It was spring 2013... and their melodies on the vinyl spinin' around...
  4. Mar 22, 2018
    10
    This album would be great if it contained "Holy Ghost", "Just Make It Stop", "On My Own", and 8 songs about cheese. But it has eight other great songs, none of which seem to be about cheese. "On My Own" live is quite amazing too.
  5. Jul 1, 2014
    9
    How this band continues to write melodies that go straight to the 'classics' section of my mind.. that is a gift. I'm not sure the lyrics were consciously thought out, but they still have a depth and meaning that I like to ponder over, like questions to pique your curiosity about a mood or a theme. Music has strengths that no other medium has, and Low plays well on those.
  6. Jun 1, 2013
    9
    I have always been a massive fan of both Low and Wilco so you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Jeff Tweedy was on production duties for ‘The Invisible Way’ Low’s 10th studio album and upon hearing it I can assure you it’s a perfect match. Tweedy has, by keeping the band minimalistic, helped them make perhaps their finest work to date, a subtle and moving record that takesI have always been a massive fan of both Low and Wilco so you can imagine my excitement when I heard that Jeff Tweedy was on production duties for ‘The Invisible Way’ Low’s 10th studio album and upon hearing it I can assure you it’s a perfect match. Tweedy has, by keeping the band minimalistic, helped them make perhaps their finest work to date, a subtle and moving record that takes everything you loved about Low and turns it into something darkly beautiful. Piano dominates most of the eleven songs here as do Mimi Parker’s vocals and pushing her to the forefront is a stroke of musical genius, the frailty of her voice giving real gravitas to the songs themes. Opening track ‘Plastic Cup’ tells the story of how a cup used to collect samples to test for drug taking is uncovered many years in the future and revered as a kind of Holy Grail. ‘Just Make It Stop’ is stunning despite its subject matter ‘you see I'm close to the edge, I'm at the end of my rope, the rope is starting to thread, I'm trying to keep my hold’ confesses Mimi before pleading ‘If I could just make it stop’. Elsewhere acoustic guitars hide out in amongst the harmonies, shuffles and handclaps and when Mimi isn’t taking lead vocal she compliments Alan perfectly. Of course this being Low and Jeff there is still some experimentation to be had, the belting keys and fuzzed up guitars in ‘On My Own’ with its ‘Happy Birthday’ refrain for example. But for me the stand out track has to be ‘Clarence White’ a lament to the awesome beauty and destructive power of nature, gospel tinged it rumbles along at a faultless pace as Alan sings ‘You think it’s pretty, but I am a raging river, I’ll cut through your city, just like destroying angels’ for something so stripped back it has real power. And that is what makes these eleven compositions so special, laid bare and raw; you can see just how good a band Low are. Celebrating their 20th anniversary with Tweedy at the helm was definitely the right thing to do and as you will hear the results speak for themselves. Expand
  7. Feb 3, 2014
    9
    Low really are on top form! Their last album, C'mon, was a great piece of work and The Invisible Way continue in this rich and intense vein. Featuring more of Mimi Parker's vocals (an excellent move), it features some fantastic singing alongside the usual unsettling, compelling guitars. My album of last year.
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 36
  2. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. 80
    The Invisible Way champions everything that is great about Low and realizes it through a neat and clear lens. It’s a formidable outing and at number ten, a remarkable feat met with solid results.
  2. Jun 4, 2013
    60
    Low still sound beautiful, but there’s a nagging feeling that The Invisible Way represents a slight drop-off in focus.
  3. May 15, 2013
    80
    The version of Low that helped define a subgenre remains recognizable throughout, but their sound has expanded.