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.
Didn't We Deserve a Look at You the Way You Really Are
Shellac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You paraded around as a crazy bitch.
Wretchedness - your lucky charm...
Unknown bracelet displayed on your arm.
All we saw is not how you are.
Caught a glimpse of you
Reveal yourself.
Didn't we deserve a look at you the way you really are?
The lyrics of "Didn't We Deserve a Look at You the Way You Really Are" by Shellac are a scathing critique of a person who has spent their life projecting a false image to the world. The singer accuses this person of pretending to be a "crazy bitch" in order to gain attention and sympathy, using their own wretchedness as a kind of lucky charm. The unknown bracelet on their arm is a symbol of their insincerity, an accessory that they wear to enhance their image.
Despite years of this behavior, the singer suggests that they have glimpsed the person's true self in an unguarded moment, captured in an unselfconscious smile. This moment of vulnerability is a reminder that there is more to this person than the persona they have constructed. The final lines of the song ask the question: "Didn't we deserve a look at you the way you really are?" This is not a rhetorical question, but an accusation that the person has denied others the opportunity to know them for who they truly are.
Overall, the lyrics of "Didn't We Deserve a Look at You the Way You Really Are" are a sharp commentary on the dangers of living a life of pretense and self-deception. The song serves as a reminder that true human connection can only come from honesty and vulnerability, and that we all have a responsibility to show our true selves to others.
Line by Line Meaning
For decades,
Over many years,
You paraded around as a crazy bitch.
You displayed yourself to the public as an unstable and irrational woman.
Wretchedness - your lucky charm...
You found comfort or good luck in your misery or unhappiness.
Unknown bracelet displayed on your arm.
You wore an unfamiliar bracelet on your arm, possibly with some significance.
All we saw is not how you are.
The version of yourself that you presented to us is not an accurate representation of who you truly are.
Caught a glimpse of you
Witnessed a brief moment of your true self.
in an unselfconscious smile.
You were innately and freely expressing your happiness without being self-conscious or self-aware.
Reveal yourself.
Show us who you really are.
Didn't we deserve a look at you the way you really are?
As an audience, don't we deserve to see the genuine version of you?
Contributed by Adam J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.