Smog

Caring Is Creepy · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 3:15 pm

Inspired by Mr Callahan's performance on Sunday at ATP, i was wondering what of his back catalogue i should be getting my hands on and ears around. I already have Knock Knock, Dongs of Sevotion, Red Apple Falls, Cold Blooded Old Times EP/single (all ace) and Rain on Lens (not ace. at all). So, where do i go next?

I gues this is one for you Dec...

gramophone · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 3:19 pm

def A River Ain't Too Much to Love -- maybe the best all-round record of his career. Supper's ok too, but really you already have most of the other highlights. Outside of "Sycamore", I think the new one's pretty crap.

Caring Is Creepy · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 3:22 pm

I kind of want to hear ALL of his songs, i'm not sure why, but something just kind of clicked on sunday. I think it's the lyrics. They're absolutely razor sharp.

SMVT · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 3:42 pm

I would rate 'Julius Caesar' very highly, it's maybe my favourite album by Callahan. It's pretty lo-fi and playful, and very different to Red Apple Falls and after stuff. For very minimal melancholy 'The Doctor Came At Dawn' is always near the top of my list too.
So, yeah, either of these are my recs.

Louis · **Joined:** Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:18 pm **Posts:** 1950

Smut Bloodfeast wrote:

For very minimal melancholy 'The Doctor Came At Dawn' is always near the top of my list too.

Yeah, this one's well worth hearing.

And what's the one with 'Bathysphere' on? That's good too.

You've got all the great stuff though.

intensive declan · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 4:32 pm

"Wild Love" - if only because it opens with one of his best songs, "Bathysphere".
The "Rock Bottom Riser" single/EP is worth getting too as there's a track on it called 'Bowery' which is great.
I agree with Smut re 'Julius Caesar' and 'The Doctor Came At Dawn'. As for the new album, I was very disappointed on the first listen but it's grown on me a lot - I agree that "Sycamore" is the best track on it. (Whereas 'Diamond Dancer' is probably my least favourite Callahan song ever....).
There's also the 'Neath The Puke Tree' EP which has alternate versions of some old tracks like 'I Was A Stranger' on it.....

Caring Is Creepy · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 4:38 pm

I knew you would be able to help out. Still, I have a certain fondness for "Diamond Dancer"...

So, what's this Sewn to the Sky CD all about? There's abotu a million tracks on it...Is it a reissue? I heard that COw tape reissue that's on the Stranded single and it wasn't what i was expecting to be honest.

And also, whichever idiot shouted "You're not as good as Joanna" at him on Sunday probably deserves not to watch music again. What a pointless comment.

scram! · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 5:13 pm

im going to see him tonight, does anybody know who the tour support is?
google is being gammy and i want to know whether its worth forfeiting my pasta bake to go down early...

John D · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 1:46 pm

I think Gramophone has this completely. There's almost like a division jump up in quality to A River Ain't Too Much To Love from the rest of his stuff.

dookerdoo · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 1:51 pm

the only one i've got is "supper"

haven't really got into it to be honest

Caring Is Creepy · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 2:16 pm

John D wrote:

I think Gramophone has this completely. There's almost like a division jump up in quality to A River Ain't Too Much To Love from the rest of his stuff.

Really? Wow, that's quite a statement to make considering how good Knock Knock and Dongs.. are. I'm off to buy it now infact. So, if you were to assemble a Smog best of, what would be on it? I'd have to have these few at least:

Dress Sexy at My Funeral
Cold Blooded Old Times
River Guard
Chosen One
Ex Con
I was A Stranger
I Break Horses
Cold Discovery
Bloodflow...

This will be a long compilation....

Clique Clack · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 2:20 pm

Listen to Rain on Lens again... I din't like it much at first, but after a couple of listens discovered that it is very far from crap.

intensive declan · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 4:43 pm

John D wrote:

I think Gramophone has this completely. There's almost like a division jump up in quality to A River Ain't Too Much To Love from the rest of his stuff.

I'd say that 'Red Apple Falls' and, possibly, 'Knock Knock' are at least on a par with 'A River....' quality wise. Gramophone's description of it as his best "all-round" record might hold some water but I see that as a comment about the conistency of the records.

C-is-C, re your best of....

All Your Women Things
Bathysphere
Strayed
The Bowery
Blood Red Bird
Palimpsest
Teenage Spaceship
(Also 'Nothing Rises To Meet Me' on the Drag City Superstar Sessions album)

agent00666 · **Joined:** Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:47 pm **Posts:** 66

I'd third the recommendation for 'A River ...' as Bill's best. After listening to him for a few years it was the first that really hit the spot. It has a really beautiful warm melancholy. Many of the others have a slightly ugly cold melancholy.

Wild Love comes in as second best for me.

John D · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 7:18 pm

To be fair this isn't really 'my type of music' but I do love River.

I Fear Satan.... · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 10:28 pm

£15 to see Smog in Glasgow

I have went the past 3 times.. this time I can say with no guilt..

Fuck right off

stewbeard · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 10:31 pm

£15? Bloody hell, Synergy gigs are usually reasonable too. And it's in the ABC2 as well. Meh.

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