Callahan started out as a highly experimental artist, utilizing sub-standard instruments and recording equipment. His reason for using the lo-fi approach was not so much an aesthetic choice, rather it came from his lack of knowledge of recording studios, and fear of giving up control to professional engineers.
His later work saw him overcoming his fear of studios and producers, and in this period he recorded two albums with the influential producer Jim O'Rourke and musicians from the circles around Drag City, as well as collaborating with the similar-minded Neil Hagerty.
His songs are based on simple, repetitive structures, strikingly characterized by his baritone vocal. His lyrics are often centered around themes of spiritual searching and the complexity of emotions, with the use of subtlety and dark irony in the classic sense. There is also a broad swathe of joy throughout Callahan's work (and a singular obsession with horses that he shares with Will Oldham and Mark Linkous). He is a keen storyteller using simple words to project large and deeply echoing tales.
Callahan's love life has been documented with vigor in numerous hipster publications, including his romantic relationship with Chan Marshall (Cat Power), who allegedly penned "To Be a Good Woman" in tribute to Callahan while referencing his song "To Be Of Use." It has recently been rumored that Callahan is now involved with Drag City labelmate Joanna Newsom.
Callahan is widely seen as one of the important figures of American rock in the '90s. He currently resides in Austin, TX.
On his 2007 album "Woke on a Whaleheart" he dropped the name Smog and used his real name, Bill Callahan.
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Smog was a psychedelic rock band from Perù, wich in 1971 released the single Time for the Blues
3. Sludge/doom metal from Nuremberg, Germany
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4. Black metal from Kraków, Poland
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The Morning Paper
Smog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's all bad news on every page
So I roll right over and go to sleep
The evening sun will be so sweet
I roll right over
And I have this thing
The red apple falls
The lyrics of the Smog's song "The Morning Paper" convey a sense of reluctance and avoidance to confronting the harsh reality of the world's current affairs. The singer sets the tone by stating that the morning paper is already on its way, alluding to the knowledge that terrible news awaits him. The phrase "It's all bad news on every page" emphasizes the bleakness of the news, suggesting that the world's problems have no end. Consequently, the singer decides to ignore the news, metaphorically "rolling right over" and going to sleep, hoping that the sweet evening sun will bring a more positive outlook.
However, amidst the avoidance and negativity, two lines of lyrics stand out: "I roll right over, and I have this thing, the red apple falls." The sudden mention of the red apple could be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possibility is that it symbolizes mortality and the inevitability of the end, something that the singer is aware of but chooses to avoid. This line of lyrics makes for a compelling contrast to the rest of the text, and adds an extra layer of depth and meaning to an otherwise straightforward song.
Some interesting facts about the song include that it was released in 1996 on Smog's album "The Doctor Came at Dawn." Also, "The Morning Paper" is one of the earliest and most accessible examples of Smog's distinctive musical style. The song has been covered by a number of artists, including The Innocence Mission and Animal Collective. The album, "The Doctor Came at Dawn," is considered one of the essential indie rock albums of the 90s. Finally, the singer-songwriter of Smog, Bill Callahan, is known for his dark and witty lyrics that often address introspective themes.
Chords are not known.
Line by Line Meaning
The morning paper is on it's way
The daily newspaper is being delivered soon
It's all bad news on every page
The contents of the newspaper are mostly negative and unpleasant
So I roll right over and go to sleep
The person feels discouraged and upset by the news and wants to avoid it by sleeping
The evening sun will be so sweet
The person looks forward to a later time when the world may seem brighter and more hopeful
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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