The Curtain Hits the Cast was the third full-length album of Duluth, Minnesota slowcore band Low

Low (band)

Low is an American indie rock group from Duluth, Minnesota, formed in 1993. As of 2010, the group is composed of Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker , both founding members, and Steve Garrington ....

, released in 1996. It was recorded at Jon & Stu's, in Seattle. The cover photo wryly shows almost the entirety of Mimi Parker's minimalist drum kit.

"Lust" was released as part of a four-way split 7" (on clear green vinyl) entitled Indie Rock Flea Market, at around the same time. "Dark" is a brief bedtime lullaby

Lullaby

A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....

. "The Plan" has no relation to the Built To Spill song of the same name. LP-only tracks "Prisoner" and "Tomorrow One" later appeared on the 2004 rarities box set A Lifetime of Temporary Relief: 10 Years of B-Sides and Rarities

A Lifetime of Temporary Relief: 10 Years of B-Sides and Rarities

A Lifetime of Temporary Relief is a box set by Duluth, Minnesota group Low, released in 2004. Includes a two-sided DVD that contains documentaries, videos and live tracks.-Track listing:Compact Disc one#"Lullaby"  – 10:06...

.

The lyric "One more reason to forget," from "Do You Know How To Waltz?", was later used as a title for one of the band's live albums. A late-'90s live version of that song, performed with then-tourmates Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994...

, has been frequently traded online for years by fans of the two bands.

Following this album, the band's major-label-funded tenure ended and they moved to Kranky Records

Kranky Records

Kranky is an independent record label, located in Chicago, Illinois. It was started in 1993 by Bruce Adams and Joel Leoschke.The bands it houses are noted for combining experimental and often electronic influences with elements of more traditional rock structures, and many of the artists on Kranky...

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Track listing

(All songs written and arranged by Low.)

1. "Anon" – 4:18
2. "The Plan" – 3:40
3. "Over the Ocean
   Over the Ocean
   "Over the Ocean" is a single by Duluth, Minnesota slowcore group Low, released in 1996....
   
   " – 3:47
4. "Mom Says" – 5:19
5. "Coattails" – 6:51
6. "Standby" – 5:09
7. "Laugh" – 9:34
8. "Lust – 4:04
9. "Stars Gone Out" – 4:26
10. "Prisoner" * – 3:46
11. "Tomorrow One" * – 3:49
12. "Same" – 2:05
13. "Do You Know How To Waltz?" – 14:37
14. "Dark" – 0:53

(* - available on LP version only)

Personnel

• Alan Sparhawk
  Alan Sparhawk
  Alan Sparhawk is the guitarist and vocalist for American band Low.-Biography:George Alan Sparhawk was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up in Utah. He met Mimi Parker when he was 9, after his family moved to Minnesota. Sparhawk began writing his own compositions around the age of 13...
  
   - guitars, vocals, keyboards
• Mimi Parker - percussion, vocals
• Zak Sally
  Zak Sally
  Zak Sally is a bassist and a comic artist. He was formerly the bassist for the bands Low and Enemymine . He is native of Duluth, Minnesota, currently owns and operates his own press, La Mano, in Minneapolis. La Mano serves as a publisher for Sally's works as well as those of other comic artists...
  
  - bass guitar, keyboards