Bill Callahan
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CelesteFries is listening to
Bill Callahan – Too Many Birds
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Biography
Austin, United States (2007 – present)
Callahan started out as a highly experimental artist, using substandard instruments and recording equipment. His early songs often nearly lacked melodic structure and were clumsily played on poorly tuned guitars (possibly influenced by Jandek, whom Callahan admired), resulting in the dissonant sounds on his self-released cassettes and debut album Sewn to the Sky. Much of his early output was instrumental, a stark contrast to the lyrical focus of his later work. Apparently, he used lo-fi techniques not primarily because of an aesthetic preference but because he didn’t have any other possibility to make music. Once he signed a contract with Drag City, he also started to use recording studios and a greater variety of instruments for his records.
From 1993 to 2000, Callahan’s recordings grew more and more “professional” sounding, with more instruments, and a higher sound quality. In this period he recorded two albums with the influential producer Jim O’Rourke and Tortoise’s John McEntire, and collaborated with Neil Hagerty. After 2000’s Dongs of Sevotion, Callahan began moving back to a slightly simpler instrumentation and recording style, while retaining the more consistent songwriting style he had developed over the years.
Top Tracks
Top Albums
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Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
42,481 listeners9 tracks
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Apocalypse
24,765 listeners7 tracks
Released:
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Woke On A Whaleheart
23,802 listeners9 tracks
Released:
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Rough Travel For A Rare Thing
7,274 listeners11 tracks
Released:
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rewinddude
Anyone know any way of getting hold of any of the Smog peel sessions? Desperately want the '94 one with Cynthia Dall, and others too of course.
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badoom_bum
the red 'ON TOUR' button makes my heart jump up with joy
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DjThanx
This is Gomora
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qmyers25
one cool motherfucker.
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palanwen
Does any one know if this wonderful man has been working on any projects this last year of 2012? Miss Bill. Must begin listening more.
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jennymellor
Love is the king of the beasts And when it gets hungry it must kill to eat
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badoom_bum
time for a new album :)
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Chadipoo
MAH FRIEND
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GotMilk
How fucking good is Eid Ma Clack Shaw, damn!
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jennymellor
I'm in love
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peirastic
mm.
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greene1994
I honestly feel like he's only getting better. I really like his work as Smog (A River, Red Apple, Knock are all really great records) but Eagle and Apocalypse were both really fucking good. Though I prefer Eagle to Apocalypse, the song writing is so much more lush and well-oriented. Still the wonderful Smog sound but with a lot more maturity and increased instrumentation to warrant many many listens.
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lkndnifkl
this guy is brilliant
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Chadipoo
bill is mine back off hipsters
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BulbusMollusc
Jim Cain and Too Many Birds are my absolute favourites of his (unsurprisingly), oh and the string bit on EMCS is sublime. Show me the way, to shake a memory....
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sergioarincon
excelente fin de dia
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ilnamudril
Jim Cain
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jennymellor
Eid Ma Clack Shaw
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Illitoris
great performer live
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badoom_bum
can't wait for a new album and new tour
All 451 shouts
