They have a distinctive, minimalist sound based on unusual and urgent time signatures, repetitive heavy rhythms, an angular guitar sound, and Albini's surreal, bitingly sarcastic lyrics. Songs typically do not have traditional verse/chorus/verse structure and the arrangements are sparse, to the point where some describe them as "amelodic". Shellac's signature sound is often associated with their enthusiasm for vintage Travis Bean guitars, a rare brand of aluminium-based instruments. Albini is also known to use copper plectrums and unique guitar straps that fit around the waist rather than over the shoulder. The band prefers the intimacy of smaller clubs, and live appearances are sporadic.
Both Weston and Albini are renowned recording engineers, and use their preferred methods with Shellac: Albini prefers a very clean, analogue recording sound with little or no overdubbing, and he is meticulous about microphone placings and equipment - this is reflected in Shellac's no nonsense approach to their own music, both in the studio and live.
Shellac are also renowned for their unconventional modus operandi. Touring is often an excuse for the band to take time away from their day jobs (Albini and Weston are both recording engineers; Trainer works at a commercial photographer's studio in Minneapolis) instead of being used to promote a recent record or even for financial gain. Indeed, Shellac do not have a "fixed fee" for performances like most bands, instead preferring to take the door charge minus expenses such as promotion, running costs and venue fees. They have also been known to ask venues to remove ticket charges they regard as unnecessary, which have become common in Europe and America.
An early claim from the band was that all of their songs were about two of Albini's favourite subjects: Baseball and Canada. In actuality, Albini and Weston's songs can refer to a broad range of topics, from the highly emotional to examinations of everyday minutiae. However, regardless of the subject, each song is presented in the same deadpan, occasionally violent manner. An example can be found in the concluding tracks from the band's album 1000 Hurts. Although both songs have a title referring to a mundane house-hold object, these items are in actuality symbolic of a larger theme. Weston's "Shoe Song" deals with the realisation of love and its subsequent loss, whereas Albini's "Watch Song" details irrational anger and aggression. Shoe Song also heavily references post-rock band Slint, who were produced by Albini.
Shellac are known for their mercurial nature, which has produced some interesting records and events. Most notably, they recorded an instrumental album known as The Futurist for a modern dance troupe. Unwilling to grant what the band considered a sub-par recording a wider audience, they pressed approximately 700 vinyl LP copies of the music and gave them away as gifts to friends. The front cover was a list of the recipients, with the relevant name encircled. Shellac also played a Halloween show as the anarchic British punk group The Sex Pistols, featuring former The Jesus Lizard and Scratch Acid singer David Yow as Johnny Rotten. Both of the aforementioned can now be found on several file-sharing networks.
In 2002, the band was also responsible for curating the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Camber Sands, England. Amongst fans of independent rock, these weekends have achieved legendary status and featured performances from some of the world's finest groups. Knowing that most of the audience had come specifically to see Shellac, the band went on first every morning as an incentive for the festival-goers to be up in time to see the other acts. An album of live tracks from this festival was also released on ATP Records.
In December 2004, Shellac recorded a final BBC Session dedicated their longtime fan John Peel. Peel had been an ardent supporter of the band and his death earlier in the year came as a great shock to the independent music community. In 2005, Shellac were recorded playing 'Steady As She Goes' in an abandoned house as part of a film project called Burn To Shine, organised by Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty and film-maker Christoph Green. This is the only available recorded video footage of the band playing live.
Crow
Shellac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
straight to her
Why?
Tell her
something
all the things
he has already
done to her
She flies as a crow flies
in a straight line
straight to him
Why?
Listen
Time flies as a crow flies
in a straight line
through you not around you
your life is only
that with which
time
has its
way with you
In the corner
of my eye
..
..
Underneath
..
..
..
Back street
in the corner
wait till
it gets warmer
..
do the honor
swing blade
underwater
Cuz
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
In the corner
of my eye
In the corner
is the sky
In the corner
with the birds
..
..
Cuz
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
The song "Crow" by Shellac is a peculiar piece that only hints at its true meaning rather than explicitly stating it. The lyrics paint a scene of two beings, who we assume to be lovers, flying towards each other in a straight line, as crows do. The first line, "He flies as a crow flies straight to her," implies that the male is the one pursuing the female in an almost desperate manner. He is trying to tell her something, something important that he hasn't been able to convey before.
The next few lines in the song suggest that the two have a complicated history. The male promises the female that he will not do all the things he has already done to her, which is cryptic at best without any context. Later on, the lines mention a darkness or a hidden place, perhaps suggesting that the two's experiences together have not always been pleasant.
The ending of the song touches on the inevitability of time, how it always moves in a straight line and takes everything in its path with it. It's a slightly morbid message, emphasizing that time doesn't care about us or our emotions, and we're just along for the ride. Its meaning is left up to interpretation, but the song is undoubtedly intriguing in its lyrical style, leading the listener on a journey with more questions than answers.
Line by Line Meaning
He flies as a crow flies
straight to her
He goes directly to her just like a crow without any detours
Tell her
something
He has something to tell her
He promises her he will not do
all the things
he has already
done to her
He assures her that he won't repeat the mistakes or hurt her like in the past
She flies as a crow flies
in a straight line
straight to him
She heads to him without any deviations or distractions
Listen
Pay attention and listen carefully
Time flies as a crow flies
in a straight line
through you not around you
your life is only
that with which
time
has its
way with you
Time moves fast without making any stops, and it affects you directly by shaping your life experiences
In the corner
of my eye
..
..
Underneath
..
..
The corner of the eye is the periphery of the vision, and there is something underneath that is just out of sight
Back street
in the corner
wait till
it gets warmer
..
do the honor
swing blade
underwater
Wait for some time in the corner of the back street until the weather improves, and then proceed to do the necessary job with a hidden blade underwater
Cuz
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
He is calling for the crow which can symbolize death or omen
In the corner
of my eye
In the corner
is the sky
In the corner
with the birds
..
..
The corner of the eye has the sky and birds that are just out of focus
Cuz
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
he's
calling
the crow
He keeps calling for the crow which can represent something sinister or ominous, possibly linked to his or her past experiences
Contributed by Eva W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.