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Austin, United States
Bill Callahan, born in Silver Spring, Maryland. Callahan followed the lo-fi genre of underground rock, with homemade tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders. Later he signed a record contract with the label drag city.
Callahan started out as a highly experimental artist, utilizing sub-standard instruments and recording equipment. His reason for using the lo-fi approach was not so much an aesthetic choice, rather it came from his lack of knowledge of recording studios, and fear of giving up control to professional engineers.
His later work saw him overcoming his fear of studios and producers, and in this period he recorded two albums with the influential producer Jim O’Rourke and musicians from the circles around drag city, as well as collaborating with the similar-minded Neil Hagerty.
His songs are based on simple, repetitive structures, strikingly characterized by his baritone vocal. His lyrics are often centered around themes of spiritual searching and the complexity of emotions, with the use of subtlety and dark irony in the classic sense. There is also a broad swathe of joy throughout Callahan’s work (and a singular obsession with horses that he shares with Will Oldham). He is a keen storyteller using simple words to project large and deeply echoing tales.
Callahan’s love life has been documented with vigor in numerous hipster publications, including his romantic relationship with Chan Marshall (Cat Power), who allegedly penned “To Be a Good Woman” in tribute to Callahan while referencing his song “To Be Of Use.” It has recently been rumored that Callahan is now involved with drag city labelmate Joanna Newsom.
Callahan started out as a highly experimental artist, utilizing sub-standard instruments and recording equipment. His reason for using the lo-fi approach was not so much an aesthetic choice, rather it came from his lack of knowledge of recording studios, and fear of giving up control to professional engineers.
His later work saw him overcoming his fear of studios and producers, and in this period he recorded two albums with the influential producer Jim O’Rourke and musicians from the circles around drag city, as well as collaborating with the similar-minded Neil Hagerty.
His songs are based on simple, repetitive structures, strikingly characterized by his baritone vocal. His lyrics are often centered around themes of spiritual searching and the complexity of emotions, with the use of subtlety and dark irony in the classic sense. There is also a broad swathe of joy throughout Callahan’s work (and a singular obsession with horses that he shares with Will Oldham). He is a keen storyteller using simple words to project large and deeply echoing tales.
Callahan’s love life has been documented with vigor in numerous hipster publications, including his romantic relationship with Chan Marshall (Cat Power), who allegedly penned “To Be a Good Woman” in tribute to Callahan while referencing his song “To Be Of Use.” It has recently been rumored that Callahan is now involved with drag city labelmate Joanna Newsom.
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Top Albums
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A River Ain't Too Much to Love
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Knock Knock
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Red Apple Falls
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Dongs of Sevotion
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Shoutbox
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rewinddude wrote:
burning kingdom ep, is so so so good.
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psynumb wrote:
I'm loving this...
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RiggyDardust wrote:
No.
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volkynevolky wrote:
I'd like to find a portal that will take me into his brain.
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furtherboy wrote:
Hey Man, nice music
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CFilardo wrote:
Another Great http://stephensteinbrink.bandcamp.com/album/condensed-nothing
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Creepcleaner wrote:
I love how his voice matured from his earlier records. Suits the music better in my opinion.
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viciadoemarroz wrote:
http://richardthere.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-break-horses.html I Break Horses. This is a draw I made hearing this song!
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leechgatherer wrote:
I've always liked Smog but for some reason it all clicked today. I've sat here for 11 hours, avoiding studying, and I haven't listened to a single track that wasn't by Callahan. This was a momentous day. A truly distinctive voice. One of the best songwriters of the past couple of decades perhaps.
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shootmeadeer wrote:
Knock Knock's stink is in my blood
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cloudyshoes wrote:
..can't....stop.....listening....
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viciadoemarroz wrote:
I think this song here could be something for some Smog fans: http://youtu.be/oH6-HJ93rP0
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gui1995 wrote:
Igual você!
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katrysss wrote:
seu lindo!
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shootmeadeer wrote:
It's kind of a low-key album, but it burrows deep.
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shootmeadeer wrote:
The only song on Dongs that I don't like is nineteen. the rest is pure gold. Distance is probably my favorite Smog/BC song.
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Apofiz wrote:
"A river ain't too much to love. the peak and the bridge of his whole career"
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sunheadbowed wrote:
Dongs of Sevotion has grown on me a lot.
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Analogue_Rock wrote:
Dongs of Sevotion was love on first listen for me.
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Bonelesss wrote:
the doctor came at dawn is simply unbelieveable good.
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Groups (90)
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Bill Callahan
104 members
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(smog)
193 members
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Drag City
287 members
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Jim O Rourke
261 members
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Fuck Bush
10,937 members
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