With Trampled By Turtles

The pairing turns out to be ideal - Sparhawk’s voice and presence maintains the kind of somber elegance he’s always had, while Trampled By Turtles provide a rustic backdrop which not only fits the material like a glove, but adds a world-weary sense of depth.

Running at 33 fat-free minutes, With Tramped By Turtles is immediate evidence of their comfort as ensemble players. .... The sense is of both parties yielding to the moment, guided by instinct and decades of fluency in their respective practices. [Jul 2025, p.24]

With Trampled by Turtles is indeed closer in the sense that these are verse/chorus/verse songs largely performed by acoustic instruments. Anyone familiar with the sometimes-bluegrass, wide-reaching folk band Trampled by Turtles might guess, though, it still doesn’t sound much like Low. And the record is better for that.

With Trampled by Turtles—a raw snapshot of perfectly articulated hurt, and the first steps of navigating it for the rest of one’s life—is one of the most compelling records of Sparhawk’s career.

With Trampled by Turtles is a satisfying Americana album and one that Low fans will enjoy. However, it feels like a missed trick to try and make something forward thinking, rather than familiar.