Bill Callahan

'Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

'Drag City

Released 30th March 09

True, it’s early yet…but wait ‘til you hear this record. Unfolding like a first view of paradise, then a slightly less ecstatic second view of paradise and then finally a glance back over your shoulder at that stupid paradise bulls***, Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle surveys a landscape that grows organically, like the time two people spend together — or the time one person spends alone (with another). One way or another, it’s awfully pretty — something’s clearly making Bill feel like a natural man. And high in the saddle, with a pouch of Big League Chew and nine sweet new tunes in tow, he’s riding herd over a diverse bunch of sounds by top-notch players. 

Sure, there’s guitar, keyboards and drums, just like there’s always been — but arranger Brian Beattie brought some old friends back into the picture: violins and French horns. It’s been awhile since Bill’s gone out dressed up in strings and brass, but they still look good on him — better than ever, in fact! Plus, recording in the big state of Texas has given Bill Callahan a panoramic sound- screen, filled with verdant and sparkling sounds, all of which allow him access to the depths of expression, allowing a gentle and stirring view of that which we call “soul.” Singing as personal as ever while still spinning wild yarns and melodic guitar fictions, Bill Callahan’s on an idyll we hope won’t ever end. We can’t grant his wish — but we sure can love Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle.

'The artist formerly known as Smog returns with another collection of sonorous, sombre ballads, which perfectly showcase both his stellar songwriting and funereal drawl. Callahan certainly hasn’t torn up the blueprint that served him so well on his previous 12 albums, 11 of which appeared under the Smog moniker.

Tracks like opener ‘Jim Cain’, the eastern-tinged ‘The Wind And The Dove’, the unsettling ‘All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast’ and the confessional ‘Rococo Zephyr’ are business as usual for Callahan. His voice retains the same laid-back, filterless smoky timbre as ever, albeit this time it’s backed up by a warmer, more fleshed-out sound than most of his back catalogue, even incorporating sweeping strings into proceedings on occasion.

That said, the jazz-inflected ‘Eid Ma Clack Show’ [no, we’ve no idea either] is practically raucous by Callahan standards, augmented by a funky bassline and some fizzing strings, with Callahan raising himself above his usual bass (g)rumble. It’s also probably the finest song he has ever penned, quite an accolade for this most prolific of writers: “Love is the king of the beasts/ And when it gets hungry, it must kill to eat”.

Less successful is yawnsome simplicity of ‘My Friend’, the pointless instrumental ‘Invocation Of Ratiocination’ and the epic, almost 10-minute final track, ‘Faith/Void’. Ostensibly a meditation on whether there is still a place for religion in the 21st century, with its oft-repeated mantra, “It’s time to put god away”, it outstays its welcome a good five minutes before the final chord and is a disappointing end to an otherwise impressive collection.

One minor point: in order to discourage uploading of this album, someone saw fit to include a severely irritating beeping car sound into every song, which is not only jarringly obtrusive beyond belief but threatens to tip this most eloquent of albums into comedy territory. For shame. Thankfully, the official release will have none of this nonsense, allowing the listener to wallow properly in the Maryland native’s melancholy musical mood.' State by John Walshe

 http://www.myspace.com/toomuchtolove

http://www.dragcity.com/bands/callahan.html