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.
Shoe Song
Shellac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you get the same jokes as me?
Do you get the jokes the same as me?
I remember the first kiss
I don't remember the last
Smash my skull on the sidewalk with the truth
I didn't know
And I miss you
I miss you.
The Shoe Song by Shellac appears to be a deeply introspective and emotional piece of music. The opening line, "I still remember hearing your shoe hit the floor," suggests that the singer is reminiscing on a past relationship, and perhaps recalling a specific moment when they knew that the relationship was over. The line is repeated several times throughout the song, reinforcing its significance and highlighting the lingering impact of this memory on the singer's psyche.
The middle section of the song seems to delve into the complexities of communication and shared experience. The lines "Do you get the same jokes as me?/Do you get the jokes the same as me?" suggest that the singer is questioning whether their former partner truly understood them on a deep and personal level. This theme is further explored in the later lines "I didn't know/And I miss you/I miss you," which seem to convey a sense of regret and yearning for a deeper connection with this person.
Overall, the Shoe Song is a melancholic reflection on the lingering effects of lost love, and the complex emotions that can arise when trying to make sense of a past relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I still remember hearing your shoe hit the floor
Do you share the same sense of humor as me? I recall the beginning of our relationship, but not the end.
Do you get the same jokes as me?
Do we understand each other's humor?
I remember the first kiss
I can recall the very first time we kissed.
I don't remember the last
I cannot recollect the final experience we shared.
Smash my skull on the sidewalk with the truth
Be brutally honest with me, even if it hurts me badly.
I didn't know
I was unaware.
And I miss you
I feel the loss of your presence in my life.
I miss you.
I still long for you.
Contributed by Hudson E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.