Smog (band)
Encyclopedia
Bill Callahan is an American
singer-songwriter
and guitarist, who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi
genre
of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City
, to which he remains signed today.
in England
's West Riding of Yorkshire
, with a four year return to Maryland from 1969 to 1973. His parents worked as language analysts for the National Security Agency
.
, 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 album
s with the influential producer Jim O'Rourke
and Tortoise
's John McEntire
, and collaborated with Neil Hagerty
. Callahan also worked closely with his then-girlfriend Cynthia Dall
in his early career, and they contributed vocals to each other's albums. 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. This shift is apparent in albums such as Rain on Lens
, Supper
, and A River Ain't Too Much to Love
.
Smog's songs are often based on simple, repetitive structures, consisting of a simple chord progression
repeated for the duration of the entire song. His singing is characterized by his baritone
voice and unemotional style of delivery. Melodically and lyrically he tends to eschew the verse-chorus approach favoured by many contemporary songwriters, preferring instead a more free-form approach relying less on melodic and lyrical repetition. Themes in Callahan's lyrics include relationships, moving
, horses, teenagers, bodies of water, and more recently, politics. On the subject of voice in his albums, Callahan has said, "It’s usually one character per record. So, the character appears in all or most of the songs on one record and then is gone. Though it makes me feel weird to talk about. Because I don’t really think in clear terms of characters. My albums as a whole could be seen as one character with many voices." His generally dispassionate delivery of lyrics and dark irony often obfuscate complex emotional and lyrical twists and turns. Critics have generally characterized his music as depressing and intensely introverted, with one critic describing it as "a peep-show view into an insular world of alienation."
Cat Power
(Chan Marshall) recorded Callahan's song "Bathysphere" on her 1996 album What Would the Community Think
and also covered another Callahan song, "Red Apples", on her Covers Record, released in 2000.
In 2007, Callahan released Woke on a Whaleheart
, his first solo album released under his own name. Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
followed in April, 2009. Both recordings were licenced through Drag City, worldwide. In 2009, Callahan contributed cover songs to four separate tribute albums to Judee Sill
, Kath Bloom
, Chris Knox
, and Merge Records
.
He currently lives in Austin, Texas
.
.
As Bill Callahan:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and guitarist, who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi
Lo-fi music
Lo-fi is lower quality of sound recordings than the usual standard for music. The qualities of lo-fi are usually achieved by either degrading the quality of the recorded audio, or using certain equipment. Recent uses of the phrase have led to it becoming a genre, although it still remains as an...
genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City
Drag City (record label)
Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
, to which he remains signed today.
Early life
Though he was born in Maryland, Callahan's family spent a total of eight years living in KnaresboroughKnaresborough
Knaresborough is an old and historic market town, spa town and civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, located on the River Nidd, four miles east of the centre of Harrogate.-History:...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, with a four year return to Maryland from 1969 to 1973. His parents worked as language analysts for the National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
.
Career
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 JandekJandek
Jandek is the musical project of an anonymous outsider musician who operates out of Houston, Texas. Since 1978, Jandek has self-released over 60 albums of unusual, often emotionally dissolute folk and blues songs without ever granting more than the occasional interview or providing any biographical...
, whom Callahan admired), resulting in the dissonant sounds on his self-released cassettes and debut album Sewn to the Sky
Sewn to the Sky
Sewn to the Sky is Smog's debut album, released in 1990 on Disaster Records. It was later re-released on Drag City and manifested Bill Callahan's importance for the Lo-fi music in the early 90s. This highly experimental album combined homerecording, substandard instruments and repetitive and noisy...
. 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
Drag City (record label)
Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
, 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 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s with the influential producer Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
and Tortoise
Tortoise (band)
Tortoise is an American post-rock band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1990.-Music:Tortoise's almost entirely instrumental music defies easy categorization, and the group gained significant attention from their early career. The members have roots in Chicago's fertile music scene, playing in...
's John McEntire
John McEntire
John McEntire is an American recording engineer, drummer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known for being in Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as being a highly in-demand producer and engineer....
, and collaborated with Neil Hagerty
Neil Hagerty
Neil Michael Hagerty is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer. He is best known for his work in Royal Trux. Hagerty released several solo albums since Royal Trux's demise in 2001, followed by recordings under the moniker The Howling Hex...
. Callahan also worked closely with his then-girlfriend Cynthia Dall
Cynthia Dall
Cynthia Dall is a lo-fi musician and photographer. Dall also gained notoriety in the fanzine world of the 90s for her frequent transgressive-styled cover shots and appearances in Lisa Carver's Rollerderby magazine.-Biography:Dall started recording and performing with then-boyfriend, Bill Callahan...
in his early career, and they contributed vocals to each other's albums. After 2000's Dongs of Sevotion
Dongs of Sevotion
Dongs of Sevotion is Smog's eighth album, released on CD and double 12" vinyl on April 3, 2000 in Europe by Domino Records and a day later in North America by Drag City. It was produced by Callahan himself and recorded by Phil Bonnet, Joe Dilillo, John Towner and John McEntire, who is also...
, 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. This shift is apparent in albums such as Rain on Lens
Rain on Lens
Rain on Lens is Smog's ninth album, released in Europe on September 17, 2001 on Domino Records, and a day later in North America on Drag City. It is the first release under the alias ', and the first album artwork which featured a picture of Bill Callahan himself on the cover...
, Supper
Supper (album)
Supper is Smog's tenth album, released in March 2003 on Domino Records in Europe and on Drag City in North America under his then-alias '...
, and A River Ain't Too Much to Love
A River Ain't Too Much to Love
A River Ain't Too Much to Love is Smog's eleventh album, released on May 30, 2005 on Domino Records in Europe and a day later on Drag City in North America. The album features guest appearances by Joanna Newsom and Thor Harris of Shearwater. Music videos were produced for both "Rock Bottom Riser"...
.
Smog's songs are often based on simple, repetitive structures, consisting of a simple chord progression
Chord progression
A chord progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord. In other words, the succession of root relationships...
repeated for the duration of the entire song. His singing is characterized by his baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
voice and unemotional style of delivery. Melodically and lyrically he tends to eschew the verse-chorus approach favoured by many contemporary songwriters, preferring instead a more free-form approach relying less on melodic and lyrical repetition. Themes in Callahan's lyrics include relationships, moving
Moving (address)
Relocation, also known as moving is the process of vacating a fixed location and settling in a different one. A move can be to a nearby location within the same neighborhood, a much farther location in a different city, or sometimes a different country...
, horses, teenagers, bodies of water, and more recently, politics. On the subject of voice in his albums, Callahan has said, "It’s usually one character per record. So, the character appears in all or most of the songs on one record and then is gone. Though it makes me feel weird to talk about. Because I don’t really think in clear terms of characters. My albums as a whole could be seen as one character with many voices." His generally dispassionate delivery of lyrics and dark irony often obfuscate complex emotional and lyrical twists and turns. Critics have generally characterized his music as depressing and intensely introverted, with one critic describing it as "a peep-show view into an insular world of alienation."
Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
(Chan Marshall) recorded Callahan's song "Bathysphere" on her 1996 album What Would the Community Think
What Would the Community Think
What Would the Community Think is the third album by American singer-songwriter Chan Marshall, also known as Cat Power. It was released in 1996 on Matador Records, and was produced by Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley. The album has been noted for its array of musical styles, ranging from...
and also covered another Callahan song, "Red Apples", on her Covers Record, released in 2000.
In 2007, Callahan released Woke on a Whaleheart
Woke on a Whaleheart
Woke on a Whaleheart is the first record released by Bill Callahan under his own name instead of his nom de plume Smog. It was released by Drag City on April 24, 2007 and released a week earlier in Callahan's home state of Texas...
, his first solo album released under his own name. Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle is the second solo album by Bill Callahan under his own name, released on April 14, 2009 via Drag City. It was recorded by John Congleton and arranged by Brian Beattie...
followed in April, 2009. Both recordings were licenced through Drag City, worldwide. In 2009, Callahan contributed cover songs to four separate tribute albums to Judee Sill
Judee Sill
Judee Sill was an American singer and songwriter. The first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum label, she released two albums, then worked briefly as a cartoonist before dying of drug abuse in 1979.Her eponymous debut album was released in late 1971 and was followed around eighteen months...
, Kath Bloom
Kath Bloom
Katherine Bloom is an American singer-songwriter based in Litchfield, Connecticut, whose sad voice often accompanies simple folk melodies.The daughter of oboist Robert Bloom, Kath grew up in New Haven, where she studied the cello as a child and started playing the guitar when she was a teenager...
, Chris Knox
Chris Knox
Chris Knox is a New Zealand rock and roll musician, cartoonist, and DVD reviewer who emerged during the punk rock era with his bands The Enemy and Toy Love. After Toy Love disbanded in the early 1980s, he formed the group Tall Dwarfs with guitarist Alec Bathgate, much loved for their honest,...
, and Merge Records
Merge Records
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as a way to release music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world and records...
.
He currently lives in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
.
Work in films
- Smog's "Cold Blooded Old TimesCold Blooded Old Times"Cold Blooded Old Times" is the second single by Smog from his 1999-album Knock Knock. The B-sides "Chosen One" and "I Break Horses" were recorded in a Peel Session and broadcast November 12, 1997. The Peel Session players were Bill Callahan , Jason Dezember and Colin Gagon...
" appears on the High FidelityHigh Fidelity (film)High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
soundtrack. - The song "Vessel in Vain" (from SupperSupper (album)Supper is Smog's tenth album, released in March 2003 on Domino Records in Europe and on Drag City in North America under his then-alias '...
) was used on the soundtrack of the independent British film Dead Man's Shoes in 2004. - In 2005, the track "A Guiding Light" (from SupperSupper (album)Supper is Smog's tenth album, released in March 2003 on Domino Records in Europe and on Drag City in North America under his then-alias '...
) appeared on the soundtrack of Winter PassingWinter PassingWinter Passing is a 2005 American drama film. It is the directorial debut of playwright Adam Rapp, also known for his work on the show The L Word. The film stars Zooey Deschanel and Ed Harris, with supporting performances by Will Ferrell and Amelia Warner...
. - In 2008, the Bill Callahan song "Night" (from Woke on a WhaleheartWoke on a WhaleheartWoke on a Whaleheart is the first record released by Bill Callahan under his own name instead of his nom de plume Smog. It was released by Drag City on April 24, 2007 and released a week earlier in Callahan's home state of Texas...
) was featured in the teen buddy comedy CollegeCollege (2008 film)College is a 2008 comedy starring Drake Bell, Andrew Caldwell, and Kevin Covais and directed by first-time director Deb Hagan. It was released on August 29, 2008, by MGM.-Plot:...
.
Books
In July 2010 Drag City published Callahan's Letters to Emma Bowlcut, an epistolary novelEpistolary novel
An epistolary novel is a novel written as a series of documents. The usual form is letters, although diary entries, newspaper clippings and other documents are sometimes used. Recently, electronic "documents" such as recordings and radio, blogs, and e-mails have also come into use...
.
Discography
As Smog:- Sewn to the SkySewn to the SkySewn to the Sky is Smog's debut album, released in 1990 on Disaster Records. It was later re-released on Drag City and manifested Bill Callahan's importance for the Lo-fi music in the early 90s. This highly experimental album combined homerecording, substandard instruments and repetitive and noisy...
(1990; LP on Disaster) - Forgotten FoundationForgotten FoundationForgotten Foundation is Smog's second album, released in 1992 on Drag City. It is the last Smog album Callahan recorded at home.-Side one:#"Burning Kingdom"#"Filament"#"High School Freak"#"Your Dress"#"Barometric Pressure"#"Guitar Innovator"...
(May 25, 1992; CD on Drag CityDrag City (record label)Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
) - Julius CaesarJulius Caesar (album)Julius Caesar is Smog's third album, released in 1993 on Drag City. It was re-released in Europe in 2001 on Domino Records. After his two first LPs, which were recorded at home with an experimental lo-fi-approach, Callahan decided to record this album in a professional studio...
(July 5, 1993; LP/CS/CD on Drag City) - Wild LoveWild Love (album)Wild Love is Smog's fourth album, released on March 27, 1995 on Drag City and later re-released in Europe on Domino in 2001. Jim O'Rourke contributed as cellist on this album, which marks his first collaboration with Smog. Drag City's producer Rian Murphy helped develop a wider musical palette than...
(March 27, 1995; LP/CD on Drag City) - The Doctor Came at DawnThe Doctor Came at DawnThe Doctor Came at Dawn is Smog's fifth album, released in September 1996 on Drag City and re-released in Europe in 2001 by Domino. It was engineered by Jim O'Rourke, who would later become the producer of Smog's two following albums Red Apple Falls and Knock Knock...
(September 10, 1996; LP/CD on Drag City) - Red Apple FallsRed Apple FallsRed Apple Falls is Smog's sixth album, released in May 1997 on Drag City and re-released in Europe in 2001 by Domino. It was recorded by Jim O'Rourke and Bill Callahan, with assistance from Phil Bonnet. It is the first of two Smog records produced by O'Rourke, and Callahan's third team-up with...
(May 20, 1997; LP/CD on Drag City) - Knock KnockKnock Knock (album)Knock Knock is Smog's seventh album, released in January 1999 on Drag City and by Domino in Europe. The album is the fourth and final collaboration with producer and musician Jim O'Rourke. Knock Knock elaborates Callahan's sound and provides twists and edges to the folky style of its predecessor...
(January 12, 1999; LP/CD on Drag City) - Dongs of SevotionDongs of SevotionDongs of Sevotion is Smog's eighth album, released on CD and double 12" vinyl on April 3, 2000 in Europe by Domino Records and a day later in North America by Drag City. It was produced by Callahan himself and recorded by Phil Bonnet, Joe Dilillo, John Towner and John McEntire, who is also...
(April 4, 2000; 2xLP/CD on Drag City) - Rain on LensRain on LensRain on Lens is Smog's ninth album, released in Europe on September 17, 2001 on Domino Records, and a day later in North America on Drag City. It is the first release under the alias ', and the first album artwork which featured a picture of Bill Callahan himself on the cover...
(September 18, 2001; LP/CD on Drag City; released as (Smog)) - Accumulation: NoneAccumulation: NoneAccumulation: None is a compilation of rarities by American singer-songwriter Smog, released on November 4, 2002 in Europe by Domino Records and a day later in North America on Drag City...
(November 5, 2002; LP/CD on Drag City) - SupperSupper (album)Supper is Smog's tenth album, released in March 2003 on Domino Records in Europe and on Drag City in North America under his then-alias '...
(March 18, 2003; LP/CD on Drag City; released as (Smog)) - A River Ain't Too Much to LoveA River Ain't Too Much to LoveA River Ain't Too Much to Love is Smog's eleventh album, released on May 30, 2005 on Domino Records in Europe and a day later on Drag City in North America. The album features guest appearances by Joanna Newsom and Thor Harris of Shearwater. Music videos were produced for both "Rock Bottom Riser"...
(May 31, 2005; LP/CD on Drag City)
As Bill Callahan:
- Woke on a WhaleheartWoke on a WhaleheartWoke on a Whaleheart is the first record released by Bill Callahan under his own name instead of his nom de plume Smog. It was released by Drag City on April 24, 2007 and released a week earlier in Callahan's home state of Texas...
(April 17, 2007; LP/CD through Drag CityDrag City (record label)Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
) - Sometimes I Wish We Were an EagleSometimes I Wish We Were an EagleSometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle is the second solo album by Bill Callahan under his own name, released on April 14, 2009 via Drag City. It was recorded by John Congleton and arranged by Brian Beattie...
(April 14, 2009; LP/CD through Drag City) - Rough Travel for a Rare Thing (March 23, 2010; 2×LP/MP3/FLAC on Drag City)
- ApocalypseApocalypse (Bill Callahan album)Apocalypse is an album released on April 5, 2011 by Bill Callahan. It is the third studio album released under his own name, and fourteenth overall when including LPs released as Smog.-Track listing:# "Drover" - 5:24# "Baby's Breath" - 5:30...
(April 5, 2011; LP/CD/Digital on Drag City)