Schnipper’s Slept On
- story THE FADER
Each Tuesday, FADER editor Matthew Schnipper highlights an underappreciated recent release he thinks we need to know about. This week it’s Smog’s A River Ain’t Too Much To Love. Buy the mp3s and read Schnipper’s thoughts on it after the jump.
FADER TV: Bill Callahan Live at Other Music
- story THE FADER
After Bill Callahan played an hour set on Saturday, people took their picture with him. He was graceful, understanding the depths of his music’s importance to his audience. Today we’re listening to his “I Break Horses” on repeat, but all weekend was the new album Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle. Have you ever fallen asleep in a park listening to Bill Callahan? It’s really disappointing when you wake up. If you haven’t done that and you couldn’t brave the impressive line to see him perform at New York’s Other Music, we were there for you and here have a new and old song, “All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast” and “Let Me See the Colts,” which closed his set. In all ways, we were devastated.
Q+A: Bill Callahan on his New Album, Record Store Tour and Living in Texas
- story THE FADER
Currently on a solo tour of record stores, our hero and FADER 45 cover star Bill Callahan was kind enough to answer a few brief questions about himself and his sublime new album Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle. Catch him in New York on Record Store Day at Other Music on Saturday night or in your town and catch the Q+A with Callahan’s take on the current tour, the “we” compatriots in his eagle wishing and more after the jump.
Video: Bill Callahan, “Faith/Void” (Live)
- story THE FADER
Bill Callahan: Faith/Void from Scott Johnson on Vimeo.
Just to get it out of the way: Pitchfork, how are you not going to mention Bill’s new haircut? That mane is lush and flowing for a man of his age. Clearly his relocation to Austin has influence more than just Callahan’s drawl. “Faith/Void,” Callahan’s new album Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle’s closer, is a confident ramble, performed here live last night in Ohio on the first evening of his in store tour.
Freeload: Bill Callahan, “Eid Ma Clack Shaw”
- story THE FADER
Late last week Drag City sent us an email with the subject: “Bill Callahan describes the recording process for Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle.” We were busy, so we just read it and instead of being a thorough rundown of his tunings and vocal flairs, it’s a couple of line drawings of boxes. One of the boxes has a speech bubble and is saying “Cuban?” Good to know he makes music the same way we make FADER. “Eid Ma Clack Shaw,” from Callahan’s upcoming Eagle does not reflect that same level of charming gibberish and is actually a coherent song—though there is a little lyrical gobbledygook. Now based in Austin, TX, Callahan’s got a little lonestar swoon and twang. He’s probably got a lot of hallucinations from barbecue and beer, too. Nothing wrong with that.
Download: Bill Callahan, “Eid Ma Clack Shaw”
Bill Callahan Finds a Tempered Peace in Horses and White Light
- story THE FADER
Bill Callahan has a voice deep like a plum pit, unchanging and calmly warm across albums. But his tone never betrays feelings, that’s more for the album’s accoutrements. Does the snare sound like a death march? Does a harmonica howl like a lost coyote? And never, until now, has his album art relayed much strong feeling. But for Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle (due April 14th on Drag City), he’s opened himself up to warmth.Look at Chris Taylor’s cover photo of horses and white light! Such bliss! This is not to mention the title. What if you and someone else conjoined and then became an eagle? You could soar and look regal. Bill Callahan would see you in the sky and write a song about love.
Schnipper’s Slept On
- story THE FADER
Each Tuesday, FADER editor Matthew Schnipper highlights an underappreciated recent release he thinks we need to know about. This week it’s Smog’s album Supper which you can purchase here. Listen to “Our Anniversary” from the record below and read about it after the jump.
