Reviews (page 6 of 7)
I usually like this vaguely folksy singer songwriter stuff. The music was pleasant but his lyrics are abysmal.
leonard cohen with no aura
Nor rlly my type of music
2.5. Interesting and can see why some would like it but not really my thing.
Alright then... Country chamber pop. Nice to discover another new artist, but it's not really speaking to me. I get what he's going for, I know plenty of 40 something dad's that try to create the same sound 😂
Der amerikanische Musiker Bill Callahan, dem deutschen Publikum vor allem als Smog bekannt, veröffentlichte dieses Album im April 2009 über Drag City – seinen zweiten Longplayer unter eigenem Namen. Aufgenommen wurde es zwischen August und Oktober 2008 hauptsächlich im The Track Studio in Plano, Texas, mit einzelnen Sessions im Cacophony Studio in Austin; das klangliche Ergebnis trägt diese geografische Ruhe direkt in sich: weiträumig, unaufgeregt, mit viel Luft zwischen den Instrumenten. Produziert hat Callahan das Album selbst, arrangiert wurden Streicher und Bläser von Brian Beattie – und dieser Orchestrierung verdankt die Platte ihren unverwechselbaren Charakter. Inhaltlich kreist Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle um Verlust, Zweifel und eine Art ruhige Resignation. Callahans Bariton – halb gesprochen, halb gesungen – steht stets im Zentrum, während sich die Arrangements behutsam darum falten. „Jim Cain" eröffnet das Album mit einem der stärksten Momente der Singer-Songwriter-Musik dieses Jahrzehnts; „Eid Ma Clack Shaw" mischt schwarzen Humor mit surrealer Bildsprache, und „Too Many Birds" erreicht eine fast meditativ-feierliche Qualität. Das fast zehnminütige „Faith/Void" schließt das Album mit einer langsamen, hypnotischen Auflösung. Was diese Platte von vergleichbaren Werken des Genres unterscheidet, ist die konsequente Weigerung, sich Wirkung durch Lautstärke oder Dringlichkeit zu erkaufen. Callahan vertraut dem Schweigen, den Pausen, dem Unausgesprochenen – und genau dort entfaltet die Musik ihre eigentliche Kraft. Kein Song übertreibt, kein Arrangement drängt sich auf. Ein Album, das seinen Hörer nicht sucht, ihn aber findet – und nicht mehr loslässt.
Boring
I can't really put my finger on why, but I did not like this album.
Pretty, and easy background music. But not sure I'd gravitate to this myself, although I've no need to skip or change music.
Didn’t care much for this. Sounded to me like he was trying too hard to be Leonard Cohen. Very off-putting, didn’t sound authentic
Had never heard of this artist, and found this an interesting if melancholic listen.
zzzz
Хто це? Ну таке)))
Monotone not singing apocalyptic country folk is not my jam, baby. 2⭐️
vaag maar okayish
eh
It’s fine until he starts to speak.
didn't take away a ton from this album. i was hoping for more of a folksy album, but this seemed like a mix between Nick Cave and then depression in the form of Americana.
Really calming and mellow, but the spoken word portions and repetitive lyrics drag this score way down. I read the Wikipedia article, I have no idea how this album had so much fanfare.
Not for me
Not for me
This was....Not For Me.
One of the more bland albums on this list. Started off ok then went on and on, quite repetitive and the monotonous tone was enough to send me to sleep. Very average.
I got bored very quickly. I didn't notice that the songs were changing. When I got to the end, I said "huh, that was it. I thought that was still the very long first song..." Nothing stood out.
Started off ok, then became tedious. For albums that I don't like, I'd like to suggest a replacement. Instead of Sometimes I Wish Were An Eagle, why not Fly Like An Eagle by Steve Miller Band? A egregious omission from this list!
No thanks.
De vraag wat vind je ervan kan soms een best moeilijke vraag zijn, toch maar nog eens luisteren en nog eens. Tiny desk opgezocht: saai. Ik zal daarom nu dingen opnoemen die ik niet leuk vind: De vrouw die rokoko zingt De manier waarop hij my friend zingt Zijn manier van zijn baritone zingen. Naast dat vind ik het poëtisch niet bijzonder hoogstaand, tis af en toe een beetje clichématig gedaan. In het laatste nummer heeft hij een sterke boodschap maar mis ik wel de diepgang, de kracht ligt dan niet in herhaling want het nummer gaat 9 minuten door. Dingen die ik wel leuk vind van het album: De sfeer die word neergezet. Ik ben enorm liefhebber van de akoestische gitaar, wat dat betreft begint het album ook vrij veelbelovend. Productie is ook goed. Ik zou graag willen weten wat Tess van t album vindt, ik geef het 2 sterren dus misschien vind ze t wel erg goed
It’s not bad, per se, but it is entirely unmemorable and bland.
161/1001 First listen. I don’t have much of an ear for this one. It all sounds like the same monotonous song. I dug the vibe though. 4/10
Never heard of this guy before. Any riff on country music isn’t going to down well with me and this didn’t offer any surprises. Not as bad as standard country music, but not something I would listen to again.
not the bill callahan i would reach for
The deadpan delivery got old pretty quickly for me. Favorite track: Rococo Zephyr
2.5
Previously unknown. Oddly compelling.
I accidentally listened to this on shuffle. Jim Cain followed by My Friend was cool because both songs were good! And then I didn't like any others. I don't think it was like godawful. They did at least have some decent music going on, but a lot of it was boring or not for me.
Idk man I feel like it's some dad in the midwest that busts it wide open for this album it was just generally a little boring for me. Had it's moments but very hard to follow along. Not a lot of variation or diversity and felt like one long thought but not in a good way. Highlights: Rococo Zephyr, Faith/Void (but like not the whole 9 min, more like 2:00-5:00
I just didn't vibe with the voice
I wanted to like this but i did not
Sometimes hints at being beautiful, sometimes just simply drab and boring. Feels like an attempt at being Matt Berninger but with less emotion in his voice and less lyrical impact.
A bit slow for my tastes. But it wasn't horrible.
It’s ok
2,2/5
no more singer/songwriter albums please
It's fine. Mostly pretty good, but a few really bad ones being it down as a whole.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
2+
Listless
I'm so close to liking this...
Can’t get behind the vocal style
Je suppose que c'est un album que beaucoup de gens adorent, mais franchement, je me suis ennuyé. Et pourtant, je suis pas forcément réfractaire aux albums acoustiques assez dépouillés. Mais alors là, j'ai pas compris l'intérêt. J'ai pas compris pourquoi l'auteur s'est dit que cet album était spécialement intéressant à écouter. Jusqu'à présent, la décennie que je note le moins bien dans sa sélection, c'est les années 2000, mais je comprends pas comment il a fait cette sélection mais elle est plutôt décevante jusque-là. Je suppose que je devrais parler un peu plus de la musique ? Ben franchement, c'est entré une oreille et c'est sorti par l'autre. J'ai vraiment juste eu l'impression d'avoir un random américain qui fait des balades à l'américaine et je suppose que le reste du monde est censé se pâmer d'admiration ? J'ai même pas encore eu un seul Bob Dylan, bon sang. Je suis sûr que l'album sera bien noté et que je serai dans la minorité, mais hé, c'est mon profil et mes notes, je fais ce que je veux.
I really tried with this one, but it just bored me to death. The whole album feels slow, muted, and stuck in neutral. Nothing grabbed me, nothing surprised me, and nothing made me want to lean in. It has that soft, introspective singer songwriter vibe, but for me it never builds or goes anywhere interesting. Every track kind of blends into the next until it all turns into background noise. I get that some people probably find this thoughtful or meditative, but it did absolutely nothing for me.
Well this guy can talk a good song. I listened to this driving to work at 5am on a cold Sunday morning and it was good company, properly in the moment. However I can’t get to grips with the talking. I will give it another go though. Would have been 3 but because of the talking it’s a ……….
Not for me fr
Boring
No private session used for Spotify. Pleasant music, but didn't care for the dude's voice as it sounded like it was struggling a lot. I can't imagine ever listening to this again.
In the little corner of singer-songwriter music, where lyrics often outshine sound and monotony can reign, Bill Callahan stands out for his instrumentals. This isn't your dad with an acoustic guitar, this guy is backed by an orchestra. Some ideas land better (Too Many Birds) than others (Rococo Zephyr). Overall, Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle is a rewarding album for those, who have the patience for it.
OK.
Nojoo, ihan kiva tunnelma, muttei varmasti tule uudestaan kuunneltua
Vähän huokailuks jäi, mutta ei nyt kovin ärsyttänytkään. 2/5.
Tästä ei kyllä jäänyt mitään käteen. Aika turhanpäiväistä jollotusta. Ei nyt kuitenkaan ärsyttänyt.
This album was not for me. I was a little bored by it. Sonically it was fine, but something about his voice in combination with the folky type instrumentals wasn't working for me. Individually, I liked the instrumentals and his voice, but together I think they were both to mellow and needed some contrast. However, it did pick up for me toward the end of the album. The last 3 songs I enjoyed, but by that point it was too little too late.
Simple songs, more spoken than sung. Interesting but didn’t earn a second listen.
Painfully slow and boring
OK Tier
Hat mich nicht gepackt.
Music isn’t bad but the spoken word style just doesn’t do it for me
Haven't heard of him before. The album reminds me of something but I'm not sure what exactly (Nick Drake? but not really). Overall I wouldn't say it's bad but Bill's monotone voice got boring halfway through 2/5
Just could not get this
Being an eagle sounds pretty freaking badass, I was enjoying the guitar, but then this dude talk-sings, and I'm just not a fan of that style, in general. This is fine, could have gone on not listening. 2*
I was not convinced!!!
This was just okay. I am not familiar with Bill Gallahan , but this was meh.
Qué canciones mas aburridos!!
Odd lounge music
Way too esoteric for me
Songwriting here isn't bad but this dude needs to find someone different to arrange and sing his songs for him. 2 stars or D+.
Faith/void is so soothing. All the songs are long. I liked this album
It was okay there was 2 standout songs for me but other than those the composition was bland and boring
I have no idea what this is, but the album title, artist name, and artwork have already annoyed me. Is it going to be Country or folk or hipster twee? Or have I got it all wrong and this is going to be awesome? Twee hipster folk sounds right. You know how a great vocal can improve a crap song, or you hear a decent song and think 'this song could be four stars if only the singer was better'? The music here is nice and the vocals are more spoken that sung, but I don't think a better singer would actually improve things. It's that twee, bland niceness that is beyond help. It's fine if you like that sort of thing, or are in the mood for it. It's yet another album by some random American nobody has heard of which has zero business being on this list.
I love country but these songs are bland and boring. His voice is no big deal
Sometimes, I wish Country Music was better. Favorite Track: "My Friend".
I liked it but didn’t love I really liked all thoughts are prey to some beast The music is really nice but I got kind of bored with the vocals and sameness It is a good album for a thoughtful Sunday morning
Bit bland and harmless. It's time to put him away.
498/1001 🌕🌗🌑🌑🌑 😴
I’m not overly into this album but I can see with the right hallucinogenics this could be a 3. Just depends on the drug. Meh. 2.5
It was okay. Reminds me a little of Leo Kottke, but without the guitar skills. 2.5/5 Probably won't listen again
Exceedingly bland. 2/5
Meh. Solid first track. 2/5
It’s ok. Probably not something I would register to.
Rien ne m'a marqué
Vaya disco más aburrido. Tío, si no tienes ganas de cantar, no cantes.
A boring gentleman, I've heard enough. Half an album is all he's getting
very chill. guy just kind of talking over some nice sounds
Slow, sleepy. I do think this one would grow on me with repeated listens, unfortunately my re-spin list is already long and this is way way down.
It was ok, could listen to it again, as I quite liked the track “Friends” - I’d never heard of him tbh.
I could fall asleep even if I was having Red bull in I.V.
There is nothing remarkable whatsoever about this boring-ass album. I'm not even halfway through this project and I can think of at least a half dozen albums that sound exactly like this but better.
Correcto
Overall it felt kind of amateur. There were some neat moments or some lyrics that were deep (but they would have been better as a poem not a song) but nothing seemed finished or polished. It was small town America meets a poetry or music compition. This guy was the best in his small town, but if you put him up against others he really isn't that great.
This was weird and kind of boring.
Not too bad. With that sleeve I was expecting at lot worse. Once again the vocal lets it down for me.
Firstly, this is a very confusing album name / cover art combo. Secondly, I think a lot of the songs on this record are beautiful but the vocal delivery is *weird*. I think I could get into this a lot more if Bill actually sounded like he wanted to be there - he sounds so dispassionate. It's certainly giving Shatner in places, if Bill was feeling particularly dispondant on the day of recording. Thirdly, there should be more nonsense words in songs. Fourthly, just because someone sings with a little bit of a twang, doesn't make them country. The genre classification for this record makes no sense to me. It's far more modern folky than country. Not entirely sure where this leaves me, but I think previous albums where I mostly really liked the music but not the vocal delivery have tended to get a 3. So while the same would have happened here, the pointlessly long and repetitive last song broke me, so 2/5
Ah, it’s fine.
He has a wonderful bass voice. Very soothing. It's just not my thing. It reminds me of 70's singer songwriter stuff, but it was released in 2009. It's not bad, just nothing jumps out at me to listen to it again. My rating: 2/5 eagle feathers
Turns out I did not need to hear that before I died.
Not for me
This was ok I guess. I found it a bit boring.
Jim Cain - 4 Eid Ma Clack Shaw - 3 The wind and the dove - 4 Rococo Zephyr - 4 Too many birds - 3 My friend - 5 all thoughts are prey to some beast - 6 invocation of ratiocination - 2 faith/void - 2
It was fine. Not too memorable except when he goes “my friends 👹👹👹”.
i mean atleast he's not grating but he's definitely annoying. Would I listen again: no Deserves to be on this list: no 2.3
I like the instrumentals and lyrics, but I'm not a fan of the talk-singing. When he actually sings, it's better, but I still don't care for his voice much. Skipped: Jim Cain, Eid Ma Clack Shaw, Rococo Zephyr, My Friend, All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast, Faith/Void Liked: The Wind and The Dove, Too Many Birds, Invocation of Ratiocination Loved: N/A Album Favourite: The Wind and the Dove Saved to Liked Songs: None
This isn’t something I’d go back to. There was no standout tracks for me and nothing really grabbed my attention
I guess this is one I just don’t get. Monotonous, no dynamics, just nothing to really enjoy about this.
To many birds... unspectacular a bit boring songwriting.
Another man singing/talking really low and thinking its poetic and nothing else quite redeeming abt it 2.5/5 ~ 2/5 5.67/10
Rococo Zephyr
Hate the vocals
Actually ended up liking this one more than I thought I would, but still not really my thing
Cover: This will be kitschy! Maybe New Age, Enya style? The first track revealed that the cover was a joke. It's DAAARK! I tried to like the album. I like his voice. He seems honest. The understated strings (ah they were only 5 guys playing into a single microphone, nice!). But then there were too many annoying things, his talk-singing style (reminds me too much of Bob Dylan), then when the woman chanted »Rococo!« I gave up. Also: too dark. It is way too introspective and the guy has only dark thoughts. Why do you need to share this with the world?
Im sorry I just don't get it
Not a fan of country
Felt pretentious. Also the half talking half singing was not great.
Minder mig om noget Peter-Sommer på engelsk. Ikke noget, der bed sig fast, men trods alt ikke lige så håbløst som den gangsta-rap, jeg har kæmpet mig igennem de sidste par dage.
Didn't liked vocals. The begining was good, but the more the album dragged, the more samey it felt. I thought it would be 4 at the begining, but by the end of the album, I can't give it more than 2
eh, not my thing
His voice is too dull and all the songs sound the same
☀︎Ça manque de vie ☀︎J’aime la clarinette dans The Wind and The Dove. Ça me donne des vibes de Luigi’s Mansion for some reason ☀︎boring
Gravel voiced nonsence
Hes barely singing, just talking. The music is kinda nice though, at times i did like what i was hearing, though then his "singing" took all the magic away. I do like his voice though, wish he would actually do a little singing. Not a huge fan of this genre anyway so i guess theres that
His voice just didn’t sound too great to me
2.5
Something slow and subtle. I can appreciate it for some parts and it definitely has an indie Pitchfork sounding edge to it. There's nothing else I can really say to describe it (6/10, 3/5 on this scale) (Update: It's a 2 now. I think it's just alright, 5/10)
Me too. So you would fly away and make no more music. painful to listen to, would not call it rock
I really did not like the vocal performance, the pacing, or the repetitiveness. However, there was a unique and ethereal element that you don't really find in country so I give it some bonus points for that. Overall I'm still not a fan but I can see the value it in.
You don't want to be Leonard Cohen I promise
Hur sjunger karln? Har väll nåt. Kommer nog aldrig lyssna igen!
Did not enjoy this. I mean the music was pleasant but the vocal delivery was not for me 2.1/5
Yeah in 2009 all music critics were telling us this was like the best music of all time - it all sounded exactly like this. Downbeat pop with dudes with low voices. This guy could be 50 other musicians. I mean, that being said, it’s not awful. Callahan’s deep timbre is pleasant, and the songwriting is fine (although it gets samey real quick). It’s okay enough to listen to for 45 minutes, but after it’s done it feels completely inessential.
2/5
Musically, I enjoyed ths stripped down mellow indie country vibe. I could not get past his vocals and cadence. This was borderline unlistenable for me.
Sure. Whatever
Don’t like his voice
Not really my thing tbh
Sounds like a guy who grew up listening to Leonard Cohen and said, “I can do that.“ In addition to being unoriginal, I find this not interesting or in the least bit compelling.
Sometimes he wishes we were an eagle? An eagle? A specific eagle? All of us? One eagle? I’m not sure this wish would work.
Atmospheric instrumentals, but the vocals seemed monotone and dull.
Folky... 2.5 stars
• zzzzzzzzz . . . Apnea inducing
Was this written and produced by a large language model? I feel so bad for the talented musicians who got suckered into taking this gig.
Likte da ikkje
Not for me, first track was pretty nice though. Dig the vibrato.
Maybe hire a singer
It’s time to put Bill Callahan away
mid
Not much singing - not to my taste
I wanted to go a little higher because I enjoyed some of the soundscapes and simple but well crafted instrumentation but the talk/singing did not work for me and it started to meander after a bit
Elmo county music
Wasn't unpleasant but plain enough that it was hard to stay interested. The vocals sound like a man who doesn't want to wake a kid sleeping in the next room. Rococo Zephyr had a richer sound than the first few tracks. Overall, I wouldn't mind hearing it again, but I would never put it on deliberately.
So this guy really only has one way of singing?
This was interesting but I also couldn’t stand it
No idea how this could make it on this list. Just talking into an open mic and some instrumentals in the background; no singing. 3/10
Bill Callahan must be popular with some, but he isn't for me. I don't like his monotone talk-singing, the lyrics are a bit pretentious and the songs are kind of boring. Overrated. Sorry.
Is this someone's uncle or something?
The album is not terrible, but simply boring.
Reminds me of Sun Kil Moon. There are some good moments and the lyrics are clearly filled with meaning, but I would need to be in a certain mood to entertain them. Best of 2009?! Hardly even close. But I did enjoy Too Many Birds.
I don’t really know what I think about this one. I felt like his voice was knock off Lou Reed at times. The lyrics didn’t really do much for me and his voice didn’t have a wow factor
Only reason I didn't give this a 1 is because some of the arrangements are decent. Some may describe this as "poetic" or "meditative" (aka often code words for boring). Well, there’s a fine line between minimalism and monotony. The talk/singing varies between passable and horrible. Obvious Leonard Cohen vibes. I understand the appeal of somber folk albums like this, but this one doesn't jive with me.
On the boring side. Felt like Cohen. Definitely did not give a country vibe - more folky.
I did not enjoy this album.
A complete waste of my time. One of the worst listening experiences of my life. Passable music ruined by terrible poetry and perhaps the worst vocal performance I’ve ever heard.
This guy sounds almost as bored as I am.
I didn't like this. But I also didn't hate it. It's like if you wanted some Leonard Cohen, but couldn't afford brand-name Leonard Cohen. So you went ahead and got the store-brand version. It'll scratch that itch a little bit, but in the end you wish you'd gotten the name-brand.
Bill took country and made it weird(er). Kudos for originality, but I didn't really like it that much. Actually, Faith/Void had a pretty good vibe, but it was way to long.
Sleep-inducing
Yeah this is not what it needs to be. I'm down with some sad dad music. But not like this.
I thought he had a unique voice, but the music was so repetitive and uninspired that i couldn’t take it seriously. Songs can have more than four lyrics, Bill!
If this mumbly motherfucker can't be bothered to actually sing I can't be bothered to ever listen to this utter garbage again. This is a desperate "add something new" entry to the list. Gets a second star because it very nearly helped me have a nice little desk nap.
Old white man says. They all end up here, huh? 2.4.
Nah
Wanted my first review to be a positive but struggling here. Songwriting is mournful but without verve, like a half baked Nick Cave. Voice resonates but not quite Cohen-esque. Melodies are pleasant enough for (very) background ambience. Ed ma clack Shaw was a highlight if only for the tempo change. If this is poetry, give me prose.
I know what he's getting at, but Bill Callahan, much like Howe Gelb, is not a a vocalist who endures soulfully or feelingly: too wispy, too quiet, and too deliberately mellow and inoffensive. Nature and the American West are his muses, but he fails to be as expansive or as explosive as the aesthetics inherent to that part of the country. There are certainly some moments of instrumental beauty, like the luscious strings at the end of 'Too Many Birds,' but Callahan's lyrics do not carry out the music's elegance or energy. 'The leafless tree looked like a brain / The birds within were all the thoughts and desires within me.' That's bad. 'It's time to put God away.' As true as that is, it's sung sleepily when it should be harangued w/ gusto and w/ guts.
Apparently this album is Alternative Country, but it's not like any Country music that I've ever heard - I guess that's why it's Alternative. The music is quite pleasant and upbeat, but Bill Callahan's vocals are depressing - a friend of Leonard Cohen perhaps?
Didn't hate it. Didnt love it. He sang the same tone the entire album. The music was good.
1.5
Ik worstel me door het hele album. Het is een allergie-categorie. Erg saai, wat Dylan-achtig, maar toch met meer kwaliteit. Een 1 zou mijn beleving prachtig weergeven, maar dat doet ook wel weer onrecht. Een puntje extra maar.
I wanted to like this more than I did. Musically there's lots of interesting stuff happening- cool riffs and drums and mood changes. The string sections are cool and make things feel big. Vocally I don't really care for this, it's got a weird talking feel to it that doesn't always fit. There's a song or two where everything seems to fit together, but I think I'd enjoy this much more with a different vocalist.
Monotonous and boring.
Bill Callahan sounds about as uninterested in this album as I am. I guess it fits the vibe, but it's a monotonous and dull vibe. I’m a broken record, but I’m gonna call out the 1001 again for issues with selecting worthy 21st century albums and keeping them on the list. (This one has been removed, rightly so.) In my Fever Ray review, I cited many more deserving 2009 albums, so while I won’t repeat that list here there are much better albums even in a bit of a down year.
There have been like five of these albums that all sound the same. Some dude with a low voice who can’t really sing so he half talks. It’s not offensive. But it’s not good and every time I think, “so apparently just anyone can make an album then.” And it makes me wonder whether the guy picking these likes them because he sounds the same.
Dollar store Johnny Cash
Interesting and really mellow
This felt like a less seductive Leonard Cohen. They were on the verge of making a good song or two but fell short. 2.5/5
Gillade de första par låtarna sen började han låta som joni mitchell
уныло. нич запоминающегося, разве что тембр классный. а так как будто мегапримитивно
Pensavo peggio da come si presentava. Va beh
Is the thing that makes this album remarkable how little effort he put into it? Because that's the only thing that I can think of.
I had to make sure that this wasn’t the guy from a fuzzy noisy 90’s band that then went on to make deep-voiced singer-songwriter albums that 2010’s-era Pitchfork tried to convince me were good but that I just don’t get who was credibly accused of being a sex pest. But that’s Mark Kozelek. So we’re good. But this album isn’t.
I didn't love it, but it was listenable. Reminds me of Leonard Cohen.
Bit too weird and concept for me
Not my jam
Didn't like
Sounds like the love child of Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen. I listened to it, and I've been sitting on this review for awhile now cause I'm really not sure what to say about it other than it was "interesting".
A modern and more upbeat Leonard Cohen. I was okay with it at first, but the problem with a monotone voice over an entire album, is that it just gets stale. The instrumentation is cool throughout, but it's just the same voice with no really variety in the tone. The last song "Faith/Void" really dragged on. I think he wants to put God away. 2
Not a fan at all of his talk-singing style, but Too Many Birds was ok.
Like Cohen but even more monotone and boring
Smooth voice rrading poems while country stile music in the background. Wake me up when the album ends.
Pleasant the majority of the time. he sounds like an indie folksy Leonard Cohen. Has some of the elements that I can enjoy about indie folk, and also some of the aspects that make me cringe a little at it. The last song was downright insufferable , though, a complete drag of a song. Kinda ruined the experience. Fav song: “All Thoughts…”
He sounds too much like Jon Lajoie. All I can think of is The Birthday Song, and I’m waiting for the punchline.
The instrumental opening of the first song had some promise, but his voice really ruined it for me. Not just the quality of it, but it seemed badly mixed or something. Badly EQ'd. Sounded too present. Just looking him up on wikipedia apparently he was know for this lo-fi sound... recording tape albums on a four track recorder. The songs bled into each other so much I didn't even realize it was over until I checked how much longer I had to endure this album and realized it was already over. The songs were self-indulgent too--way too long and just annoying. "Eid Ma Clack Shaw" may be one of the more annoying songs I've heard recently. This was supposed to go with the Steely Dan "Pretzel Logic" album: Eek. I had to look up what sub-genre Steely Dan was to confirm what kind of rock I really don't like. And the answer is jazz rock. The song "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo" was an instrumental that was somehow worse than the title would have you expect. Just looked up that that is a Duke Ellington track... doesn't make it less annoying to have to listen to on this album. "Through With Buzz" was the only song I found myself semi-grooving to.
It’s like this guy is trying to sing off key…too bad, because I would have really liked this album if he could sing at all.
Country
So much of this album was 'meh'. I like his voice, but the tonality and carrying notes felt flat. The music was ok, but nothing came out from the background.
Well those vocals became grating
I'm sorry, am I the only one who burst into laughter with, "I used to be darker/Then I got lighter, then I got dark again"? Or when he remembered being a horse? Despite his delivery, I'm having a real hard time taking this seriously. I'd LOVE to hear different lyrics (not nonsense) set to the music. Do you ever wonder what session musicians think of what they're playing? "How? How? How?" A whole dang album of this. Wow. "Sometimes I Wish WE Were an Eagle" so who is he merging with to become an eagle? One of the horses on the cover? Slightly more tolerable than Nick Fucking Cave, at least.
It doesn't feel like it's from the right time. It's oddly peaceful but in a bad way.
Ekki algjörlega laust við sjarma, en rosalega mónótón söngur og mjög drónkennd lög. Ætti kannski að gefa þessu fleiri sénsa, en það bara kallar ekkert á mig.
This is #day132 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I knew this was country! It just couldn't have been the other way around. Although country is among my top worst genres on this list, this one was okayish. At times, the music was veering into this alternative/progressive folk-country kind of shit, which caught me off guard. And I like it when music makes me feel that way. But, again and again, is this the one you must listen to before you die? Why not include some Mark Kozelek stuff instead? Have you heard of Red House Painters or the new Sun Kil Moon? That's what I'm saying. I'm giving this a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day133.
None of this is particularly offensive and there are some beautiful lines (of poetry?). But if I’m going to dock Carole King points then Bill Callahan needs to learn what it’s like to play with the big boys. Sucks to be the palate cleanser on a heater of a week. Some of these songs sound like if Kermit the Frog finished his take for Rainbow Connection and then fell into a serious oxy habit. If I want to listen to log cabin music, I’d listen to Bon Iver who completely market corrected this guy (For Emma came out a year before this album). Sorry to Bill that he shares a score with Pere Ubu..that feels too harsh but we’ve got to start drawing some lines in the sand.
Lotta bird talk. Bill was fighting an uphill battle from the jump with that title/album cover combo. I think I could make space in my mind for something like this, but it would take an investment of energy I'm not willing to make. Bill sounds like a modern Leonard Cohen, and I struggle with this for the same reasons I struggled with that one.
If you’re going to sing this poorly, over such standard melodies, you better really bring it lyrically. Instead bill here is rambling on about tender willow branches and jaunty bees and too many birds and whatever the fuck.
Oh, god. One of the handful of albums we encountered so far that I dont get. Rococo Zephyr was one of the only songs I enjoyed. And for that, its 2 stars
On the face of it you would think i would really like this. It has a lot of the right components for something I really should like. So why is it that I really don't? Can't tell you, but I really don't 2
I quite liked his vocal style, but the album just too samey and dull. Liked the opener and the last track (although that was too long).
I should dislike this on paper, words like country and folk, enough to make me run for the hills, but I didn't. That could have been due to the little word 'alternative'. Once I'd got over his distinctive voice and settled into its gentle style and rhythms, there was a lot to like on first listen. Will I listen again? Probably not.
Ok listen 2/5
Okay. Just okay. I think I have mentioned how strings are a turnoff. I just dropped off.
For fuck's sake. I didn't like this the moment I saw the album title and cover. I listened, and liked it even less.
Not for me. Every song seemed to follow the same formula. By Too Many Birds I was done with this.
тригерящий тембр Леонарда Коэна, хоть вроде и более мелодичный и без этих ужасных снятий. но воспринимать это я всё равно не могу
Slow and drab.
eh the instrumentals are good but his spoken word monotone stories I did not care for
Some of these tracks have some fantastic modern country instrumentals, but not enough to get over the spoken word repetitive lyricism. I get it, just not my flavor.
This was mostly just boring. I managed to go through the album almost 3 times before I noticed because nothing stood out to me Standouts Rococo Zephyr 2/4
Not terrible. Some of the lyrics are interesting but the whole thing is pretty monochromatic
not a fan of the voice
It was ok. Nothing really sparked for me.
Not my cup of tea
Es un disco muuuy tranqui, planchado mal y que no deja mucho.
4/10 - It sounded like my horse that matt submitted in music league
Meh, just ok.
This was adequate at best. Bill's vocal range is only about 3 notes, which kinda ruined the music, which I actually enjoyed. Overall, though, I'm not a fan.
If you're into someone doing an impression of singing under their breath and/or spoken word over pseudo country-folk then this album is great. For me, this is just someone's dad that thinks they have a great singing voice and rents a studio to put the horror show onto tape. It's god awful and boring. I'd rather listen to Dirk Diggler's unreleased studio album on repeat than listen to this.
Didn’t like this at first. It grew on me. Background noise.
I must have missed the memo
2/5. I understand the genre where this derives from but I never had an easy time getting into it. The lyrics are nice and instrumentation is simple and beautiful. The issue is the voice where there is not much going on for feeling and emotion and the monotone talking can only take me so far without getting bored. The lyrics were nice but I felt like I would rather enjoy reading a book than this audiobook. Best Song: Jim Cain, All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast, Eid Ma Clack Shaw
Boring
Talented but no my jam. 2.5
Never heard of this artist. Too soft for me.
I didn't hate this but didn't love it. Kinda fit my mood the morning I listened to it as it was just easy listening. Won't listen to it again though.
I really didn’t have to listen to that before I died.
I like “Eid Ma Clack Shaw” alright (although I had already heard it a couple of times), but the rest of the album is just so boring.
Not enough variety in the music, and not enough vocal melody to contrast the distinctive voice.
I just can't get past the vocal delivery, but the music is good.
Boring..
I don’t mind weird voices, and I typically like experimental softer stuff ala Cotten Jones, etc. the instruments were good too but something didn’t click. This one dragged for me
There is nothing interesting here. I guess he’s trying to be another Leonard Coen. If I was into that, I’d just listen to Leonard Coen. But I’m not, so I’m not going to listen to either.
Not ridiculously bad
I have never heard of this artist and will probably never listen to this album again. Really didn’t enjoy it. The music/ tunes were lovely but I just didn’t like some bloke talking over them.
I’m not certain I need to listen to it before I die. It’s nice and I like Callahan’s voice. Can it be just that?
At first I thought this album was pretty deep and Callahan was a singer like that guy from the national with the super deep voice. As the album progressed I realized he just isn’t that good of a singer and lyrically this is pretty good but it doesn’t make the album stand out that much. It’s a calm low toned album of various different life perceptions. 5.5/10
I dig that he has an interesting voice and the music was actually pretty cool but I’m rating a 2 because to me it doesn’t sound like it was properly recorded like they weren’t sure how to mic him so this is a 2 for technical reasons.
Ok
Something about his voice timbre and/or the forwardness of his voice in the mix doesn’t really match the instrumental sound. Or maybe it’s that he doesn’t really sing so much as talk. I mostly liked the instruments (3.0)and mostly disliked his singing (2.0). 2.5
Maybe a 3
Gillade andra låten. I övrigt fanns det ju mer att önska.
This one didn’t hit do it for me. I get his vibe and the Leonard Cohen-esque voice and delivery, but it didn’t work for me. And I had to end the last song because it was way too repetitive for nearly 10 minutes.
Writing this one a bit away from listening, but it felt like a bit of a slog. Poetry for sure, but not something I’d revisit.
No jaa. Ihan hauskoja hokemia, mutta aika lauleluksi meni, mitä nyt välillä erikoisuudentavoittelun puolelle (sanoituksissa). En lämmennyt.
i enjoyed the instrumentals, just didn’t care for the singer
Very Nick Drake inspired. Some cool lyrics, but don't love the melancholy vibe. My second time hearing this in the last few years, put on my do not repeat list, but decided to give it one more shot. Same outcome.
Appealing voice, unusual sound. And sooo boring.
Never heard of this guy, obviously a big influence on David Berman and Silver Jews
This was interesting. Never need to listen to it again.
The music is lush and pleasing, but the voice is fucking awful. I can't do it.
Gives me a little bit of Leonard Cohen vibes? 2.5
Boring. Not bad, but not my thing at all. 2.3.
Don’t like this guys voice.
Nice voice
Like the guitars and drums, the spare arrangements. I also like his voice. Inflections sometimes annoying. Lyrics are a bit too avant-garde poetry spacy weird for me. Then came Invocation of Ratiocination, which was both weird and annoying. My first impression of guys like this is they smarter than me and I just don’t get it. But then I realized he’s just weirder than me, and I still don’t get it.
Kinda boring, sounds like a folk-emo thing with a guy who has a deep voice. Faith/Void is nice: "it's time to put god away" over and over are magnificent lyrics and has a haunting melody.
Meh...it's fine for a singer songwriter album, but it's really not all that interesting either. His voice borders on my biggest pet peeve of singers who sound bored while singing. Favorite track: Eid Ma Clack Shaw
Very inspired but not inspiring.
Weird
How come no one in this guys life suggested he should try actually singing his lyrics
Have never heard of Bill Callahan. It's not a bad album. I feel that I could write a song like Rococo Zephyr and play the same three chords... Maybe I'm giving myself too much credit.
Really pretty album. I appreciate this type of music, but not quite my style. Love the bird theme though, especially “Too Many Birds.” Album art and name is cool too.
Made it through 3 songs then fell asleep. Good deep voice and musicianship but otherwise just meh
Different....hummm.
Not for me
This is a pretty decent "winding down for the day" album. Very low key and many times beautiful instrumentation (especially the orchestral parts). It does not speak to me, and I don't enjoy Callahan's singing all that much...very little range. Favorite tracks: The Wind and The Dove, My Friend, All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast.
The album title threw me but the cover is pleasant enough. The first song starts very pretty; pretty and sad. But overall, bleh. This album is not really meant for me any more than the Ice Cube I just listened to. In a totally different way, of course. If this album speaks to you, great. It is lovely and has something to say. Far from the worst, or most boring, music on this list. But where I loved discovering Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left, but Bill Callahan just doesn't have the same level of, I don't know, honesty and beauty, sense of melody and pacing, to make me like his brand of sad slow music. It plods where it should float. Is there something here unique or superlative or influential enough to be on this list? I don't know about the latter, but on the other points no, I don't think so.
This one did nothing for me. I don't know if it's accurate or not, but this feels like a good songwriter who thought he'd give a crack at singing/arranging and it just didn't work for me. The songs were simple and that doesn't bother me. But the signing was just boring.
I really only liked the first song it's like really good!
Nice voice, but that's it
A bit boring
Kudos for the Nick Drake facsimile circa Bryter Layter. It has a stilted awkwardness to it thought, which prevents me from resting in it.
Yet another filler album in this curated list. I wonder, what was it the curators thought I should not miss out on by listening to this album, but I can’t come up with an answer.
Beautiful instruments. Horrible voice. Like a man on a bustop that won't stop talking to you. American Elbow with monotone vocals.
# 147 : omg - Sounds like a Dad singing in a make shift recording studio! A deep, slow vocal delivery brings with it feelings of gloom and despair… couldn't keep my eyes open trying to listen to this. Eid Ma Clack Shaw
I've been quite a fan of the country that has been on this list, but this album is a baffling choice. Nothing about this is exceptional and it's completely middle of the road. You forget songs and they aren't even finished.
sehr ... sedierend 🥱