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.
Rush Job
Shellac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In one week
For quarter?
Complete?
We're chemical??
Physical??
??
Four quarter??
Class M
Carbon based
Oxygen
A blue ocean
White cap
Tectonic
Formed land mass
We're chemical??
??
??
??
The light of heaven!
The land!
The stars!
The game!
The man!
Day off.
The lyrics to Shellac's song Rush Job evoke a sense of hurried creation. The opening lines, "A new world in one week/For quarter? Complete?" suggest that someone is trying to create something entirely new in a very short amount of time. The following lines reference chemical and physical processes, as though the creator is trying to manipulate the very building blocks of the universe. The phrases "We're chemical" and "Physical?" could reference the fact that all living things are composed of chemical elements and that life itself is a physical process.
The next section of lyrics describes the world that has been created in stark, elemental terms. The "four quarter" could reference the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, which have been used to describe the world since ancient times. The inclusion of "class M" suggests that this is a planet similar to Earth, with carbon-based life forms and an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The "blue ocean" and "white cap" describe the surface of the planet, while "tectonic" and "formed land mass" suggest that the planet has undergone geological processes similar to those on Earth.
The final lines of the song seem to be a celebration of the creation that has been made. The "light of heaven" could reference the natural beauty of the world, while "the man" and "the game" suggest that this creation will have an impact on human culture. The final line, "Day off," could be interpreted as a moment of rest after a period of intense creation.
Line by Line Meaning
A new world
We are creating something entirely new and unprecedented.
In one week
We are under intense pressure to complete this project quickly.
For quarter?
Is this project supposed to be focused on a specific target market or purpose?
Complete?
Are we expected to deliver a finished and fully-functional product?
We're chemical??
Are we using chemical-based or inspired concepts in our work?
Physical??
Will the final product have a tangible or physical presence?
??
Are there any specific requirements or limitations we need to be aware of?
??
How much creative freedom do we have in this project?
Four quarter??
Are we dividing the project into four main stages or components?
Class M
Referring to Earth as a habitable planet within a specific classification system.
Carbon based
Referring to Earth's biology and chemistry being heavily influenced by carbon.
Oxygen
Highlighting the importance of oxygen for sustaining life on Earth.
A blue ocean
Describing the beauty and vastness of the Earth's oceans.
White cap
Referring to the white froth or foam created by waves crashing against each other.
Tectonic
Referring to the Earth's physical structure and the shifting of its plates.
Formed land mass
Describing the process of land formation on Earth through geological activity over time.
We're chemical??
Once again questioning the use of chemical-related concepts in our work.
??
Are we exploring any other scientific or technical concepts in our work?
??
Is there any specific tone or theme we should be trying to convey through our work?
??
Is there any particular messaging or branding we need to incorporate into our work?
The light of heaven!
Describing something awe-inspiring or miraculous happening.
The land!
Celebrating the beauty and importance of natural landscapes and environments.
The stars!
Highlighting the vastness and wonder of the universe beyond Earth.
The game!
Referring to the challenge and excitement of the work we're doing.
The man!
Potentially referring to a specific person or authority figure, or the idea of succeeding against all odds.
Day off.
Possibly indicating a break or deadline in our work or project.
Contributed by Grace O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.