L.A. based indie-pop quintet Low Vs. Diamond was founded in 2002 at the University of Colorado. Originally a three-man endeavor playing jam band cover songs at fraternity parties, it wasn’t until after graduating and moving to L.A. that the true direction of Low Vs. Diamond began to take shape.  Band members span from across the country helping encourage a diverse sound from numerous regional locales. After listening to their self-titled debut released in 2008 it is not difficult to understand the critical acclaim the band has received, attracting the attention of record label Sony BMG. Despite citing such influences ranging from U2 to The Strokes to AIR, Low Vs. Diamond has pioneered an anthemic, glorious, and alluring eleven-song album easily earning my adoration.

The album starts on a high note with their first single “Don’t Forget Sister,” a slow building ballad referencing lead singer/songwriter Lucas Field’s take on family. Reminiscent of The Who’s “Baba O’Reilly,” of which some of the chord progression was borrowed, the song does nothing to disappoint with its crescendo built ready for the largest of stadiums (you can almost see the fists pumping by the end of this song). My personal favorite from this album is “Killer B,” led by the band’s namesake drummer Howie Diamond taking the wheel with his pulsating drumbeat encouraging his band mates to drive their melodies home through the song culminating in the perfect balance of harmony. Field makes note in many of his songs of failed romances and difficulties with relationships, a plight it seems common to those blessed with such artistic talent. Whether the situations outlined in his lyrics are based on reality or artistic interpretations of fictitious encounters are of little consequence to the listener when compared to the myriad of melodies expressed throughout each and every song. “Actions are Actions” highlights the songwriting chops of keyboard player Tad Moore, whose performance on this song is anything but underwhelming. Field appears to draw influence from The Killers singer Brandon Flowers in this nostalgic documentation. Yet another notable track from this album is “Heart Attack”, brimming with hooks the song epitomizes Low vs Diamond’s entire collection. Constantly changing tempo throughout the song urges you as the listener to wonder what these guys will serve up next.

Overall, this album was a diamond in the rough for me, pun intended. It has been a long time since I have been able to sit down and enjoy every track from an album and feel that the twelve dollars I plunked down on the counter at Good Records was money well spent. Low Vs. Diamond has delivered in kind, and I will be the first in line to buy a ticket to see them execute their craft live. Do yourself a favor and add this band’s work to your music collection as soon as possible, and keep them on your radar going forward. I know I will.