The Swell Season - “Low Rising” (video)

The Swell Season is Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s first album without the built-in emotional resonance that comes from the identification of character, plot, and image with song. It’s hard to imagine the music from the Once soundtrack without recalling its place in the film, whether Glen was busking by himself or recording with the band. “Low Rising” has a video, but for the most part, the music has to speak for itself.

—Tyler Gould