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Smog

Bill Callahan (born June 3, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi genre of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders. Later he began releasing albums with the label Drag City, to which he remains signed today.

Callahan started out as a highly experimental artist, using substandard instruments and recording equipment. His early songs often nearly lacked melodic structure and were clumsily played on poorly tuned guitars, resulting in the dissonant sounds on his self-released cassettes and debut album Sewn to the Sky. Much of his early output was instrumental, a stark contrast to the lyrical focus of his later work. Apparently, he used lo-fi techniques not primarily because of an aesthetic preference but because he didn't have any other possibility to make music. Once he signed a contract with Drag City, he started to use recording studios and a greater variety of instruments for his records.

Links to Peel[]

Smog was played regularly by Peel on his shows throughout most of the 90's and 00's. The artist also did three sessions for Peel's programmes and listeners voted two of Smog's songs in the 1999 and 2000 Festive Fifties. In 2003, Peel made Smog's Supper album as one of his albums of the month for April 2003 (Peel's Record Box).

Festive Fifty Entries[]

Sessions[]

Smog_-_Peel_Session_2001

Smog - Peel Session 2001

1. Recorded: 1994-11-20. Broadcast: 06 January 1995

  • My Family / A Jar Of Sound / My Shell / Your New Friend

2. Recorded: 1997-10-14. Broadcast: 12 November 1997

  • Chosen One / I Break Horses / Moonshiner / Wine Stained Lips

3. Recorded: 2001-12-10. Broadcast: 03 January 2002

  • Cold Discovery / Dirty Pants / Beautiful Child / Jesus

Other Shows Played[]

1991
1992
  • 08 August 1992: Bad Ideas For Country Sounds I (album - Forgotten Foundation) Drag City
  • 28 August 1992: Filament (album - Forgotton Foundation) Drag City
1994
Bathroom_Floor

Bathroom Floor

1995
1996
  • 06 April 1996: I Break Horses (EP - Kicking A Couple Around) Domino
  • 12 April 1996: ‘Your New Friend (CD - Kicking A Couple Around )’ Domino
  • 05 October 1996: Spread Your Bloody Wings (album - The Doctor Came At Dawn) Domino
  • 07 December 1996: Came Blue (7" - Came Blue / Spanish Moss) Hausmusik
1997
1999
2000
2002
2003

See Also[]

External Links[]

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