Alan Sparhawk
With Trampled By Turtles
Sub Pop Records [2025]
“Sparhawk turns loss into harmony on this stripped-down, soul-baring set.”
Album Overview: Alan Sparhawk is best known as the co-founder of the beloved slowcore band Low, where he spent nearly three decades making emotionally raw and resonant music alongside his wife and bandmate, Mimi Parker. Based in Duluth, Minnesota, Sparhawk has always found ways to stretch creatively—whether it was the swampy blues of Black-Eyed Snakes or the hypnotic grooves of DERECHO Rhythm Section, a project with his son. After Parker’s passing in 2022, Sparhawk remained deeply rooted in his community, continuing to create music with family and longtime friends.
On With Trampled by Turtles, Sparhawk sounds like a man surrounded by love and memory. It’s not a traditional solo record—it’s more like a musical family reunion. Joined by his children, trusted collaborator Nat Harvie, and every member of Trampled by Turtles, the album feels communal, heartfelt, and unforced. Many of these songs were written earlier and shelved, but here they finally bloom in an acoustic setting that feels lived-in and full of trust.
Musical Style: Built on acoustic textures, the record moves confidently through folk, roots, and bluegrass. You’ll hear plenty of fingerpicked strings, hushed harmonies, and earthy instrumentation—but nothing feels overly polished. The arrangements breathe. There’s an organic, porchlight-warm feel to everything, as if you stumbled onto a circle of musicians playing deep into the night. It’s intimate without being insular.
Evolution of Sound: Following the experimental White Roses, My God, where Sparhawk explored electronic textures and vocal effects, this album marks a return to something more grounded. His voice is unfiltered and direct, front and center. Songs like “Heaven” and “Get Still” have been reshaped from looser sketches into something clearer and more emotionally gripping. It’s the sound of Sparhawk reconnecting with his roots while still nudging forward.
Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into the stripped-down sincerity of early Bon Iver, the deep ache of Jason Molina, or the quiet soul of Iron & Wine, this record will speak to you. There’s also a touch of Gillian Welch & David Rawlings in how the vocals and strings lean on each other, gently carrying the emotional load.
Pivotal Tracks: “Stranger” opens the album in gorgeous harmony, weaving multiple voices into one shared breath—it sets the tone for the collective spirit that runs throughout. “Screaming Song” hits the emotional core, led by Sparhawk’s stark opening line and built up by the band’s restrained power. On “Not Broken,” his daughter Hollis joins in on the chorus, making it one of the album’s most poignant moments. “Torn & in Ashes” and “Don’t Take Your Light” highlight the instrumental interplay—mandolin, banjo, and strings creating a rich, dynamic swirl. A new version of “Get Still” closes the loop, offering clarity where there once was shadow.
Lyrical Strength: Sparhawk writes like someone who’s lived through the storm and come out quieter but not defeated. His lyrics are plainspoken and honest—never overwrought, always felt. Themes of loss, healing, connection, and memory echo throughout, but they’re never heavy-handed. And when those words are lifted by the voices of his family and friends, they hit even harder.
Final Groove: With Trampled by Turtles isn’t about reinvention—it’s about presence. It’s a gentle, unvarnished reminder that healing doesn’t have to be loud. Sparhawk leans into his community, and what comes back is music full of warmth, ache, and grace. It may be born of grief, but this album lives in a place of hope. Wherever Sparhawk goes next, he’s clearly not going alone—and that’s something worth following.
LOW REVIEW HISTORY
Hey What (2021) / Negative (2018) / Ones And Sixes (2015) / The Invisible Way (2013)
ALAN SPARHAWK LINKS
Instagram | Bandcamp | Facebook | Sub Pop Records
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