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.
Squirrel Song
Shellac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We'll be lucky if I don't bust out crying
How does it feel?
Your night light, your curling iron
Lit up by the sweat of others,
For pennies a day
But not from November to May
The floor is littered
With woodchips and apple cores
And hulls (holes, husks?) of acorns
There is a chattering sound
Because they were squirrels; real squirrels.
(And there were thousands)
This isn't some kind of metaphor,
Goddamn, this is real
The opening lines of "Squirrel Song" by Shellac set the tone for the entire song - it is a sad and emotional piece, with the singer admitting that he may just cry while performing it. The song then moves on to describe a scene that is simultaneously mundane and strange. The singer asks, "How does it feel?" and then describes various objects - a night light, a curling iron - being illuminated by "the sweat of others." This seems to be a metaphor for the idea of people being exploited or taken advantage of - perhaps being paid too little for their work, or having to work in dangerous or unpleasant conditions. And yet, the odd detail that follows - that the situation only exists "not from November to May" - makes it clear that the objects mentioned are actually being lit up by the presence of squirrels, who are somehow responsible for the mysterious lighting.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a sad fuckin' song
The following lyrics will depict a depressing story
We'll be lucky if I don't bust out crying
The singer may become emotional while conveying the story
How does it feel?
The singer asks a question directed at someone
Your night light, your curling iron
Listing off personal belongings of the person being addressed
Lit up by the sweat of others,
Items were likely obtained through cheap labor
For pennies a day
Cheap labor results in low wages for workers
But not from November to May
The work season lasts only certain months
The floor is littered
The surroundings are dirty
With woodchips and apple cores
Leftover food and debris covers the ground
And hulls of acorns
There are remnants of food that has been consumed
There is a chattering sound
Squirrels can be heard communicating with each other
Because they were squirrels; real squirrels.
The animals present are actual squirrels, not symbolic references
(And there were thousands)
There is a large population of squirrels in the area
This isn't some kind of metaphor,
The description is not a symbolic representation of something else
Goddamn, this is real
The situation being described is truthful and genuine
Contributed by Levi K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
RasBuyaka
to have:
'your night light, and your curling iron
lit up by the sweat of others
for pennies a day
but not from november to may.
the floor is littered
with woodchips and apple cores
and there's a chattering sound.
because they were squirrels.
real squirrels.
and there were thousands.
this isn't some kind of metaphor,
goddamn, this is real'
from an interview with Steve Albini:
"The Squirrel Song is basically just a short story. It’s just about this guy who becomes suspicious of the power of the distribution grid and he wants to separate himself from it, so he builds a squirrel-powered generating plant so that way he can be self-sufficient. The problem is, of course, he has all these squirrels, and he then has to tend all the squirrels, and it takes up all his time. And they only really generate enough power to keep the lights on in the squirrel house. Even then, they hibernate all winter. Also, this dude has invented this boogie man [in] the power grid, [and] he decides to sidestep it by building a squirrel power plant that ends up totally consuming his life – and it doesn’t accomplish what he wants it to."
NoEsUnYoutuber
Always loved those little Flamenco-ish licks. Such a perfect little buildup to total destruction.
Mike Nolan
the guitar work is exceptional
tom osman
This isn’t some kind of metaphor. Goddamn this is real!
Jessie
This is a SAD fuckin song...
NoEsUnYoutuber
We'll be lucky if I don't bust out cryin'!
Dylan Hawes
arghhhh when i see them live again im gonna thrash my body for the dance
Andrew McPherson
When the bass comes in, aw yeah
Crank Lab Explosion - lab central
R E A L S Q U I R R E L S
Ewan Fresco
I rate this song 17/8
Christopher Loza
@THE316SUX ! 9 and 8 do not add to 19, it is 17, but you're right, i wasn't counting until this comment made me overthink it. Lol