SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LOWEST OF THE LOW – OVER YEARS AND OVERNIGHT

LOWEST OF THE LOW
OVER YEARS AND OVERNIGHT
SONIC ENVY/CURVE MUSIC

Lowest Of The Low shift gears with the band’s seventh studio LP album Over Years And Overnight. Recent releases were more politically unsettled in nature, while Over Years And Overnight, as a whole, is retrospective, uplifting yet melancholic at times. This 11-song release remains edgy while retaining a listener accessible and radio friendly footing.

Self produced, Over Years And Overnight continues in a slightly less polished sounding manner, as did 2023’s Welcome To The Plunderdome. A contrast to the satiny smooth David Bottrill produced, excellent 2019 release AGITPOP. Perhaps the grittier sound of Lowest Of The Low is most fitting, although all three albums contribute significantly to the LOTL archives.

The band has now been in existence for closing in on 35 years (inclusive of a band hiatus from 1994 to 2000) with the current incarnation of the band being a team for nearly 8 years. Founding members Ron Hawkins and David Alexander along with Lawrence Nichols, Greg Smith and Michael McKenzie, are the longest continuous partnership in the history of the group. Over Years And Overnight marks the band’s first album where all members have co-written three songs. This close cohesiveness has resulted in a particularly great album.

The entirety of Over Years And Overnight is an enjoyable mix of solid tracks. Most notables include the poetic “The Moon And The Stars And The Sky And The Sea”, the self-titled lyrically potent “Over Years And Overnight”, the chill, Nichols’ harmonica laden “In The City Lights” and the ever-catchy “The Seven Sorrows”. The first single, “The Only One I See”, adds a fun, optimistic reggae-vibe to the mix. Additionally, there are some really nice moments throughout the album which feature McKenzie’s guitar chops, while Hawkins’ singing voice hits the right profile.

Over Years And Overnight continues to shine a light on the rock ‘n’ roll evolution of Lowest Of The Low. If this album is any indication, there are plenty of creative juices remaining in the tank of this legendary Canadian indie rock band as they continue to build on the dynamics of their band as a unit.

SPILL FEATURE: CONTINUING THE LOWEST OF THE LOW EVOLUTION OVER YEARS AND OVERNIGHT – A CONVERSATION WITH RON HAWKINS

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