Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

I could see this growing on me and going up a star, there's a lot to digest. It's very pretty, very cinematic, kind of gloomy. I do think most of the songs are a little meandering and Callahan's vocals don't exactly do it for me.

Very inspired but not inspiring.

Had not heard of Bill Callahan. Tried to listen to the album but couldn't. Would like to hear/read a description of how it ended up on best album of year lists and this one.

This is a good album, everyone here is a hater. Ambient, low-fi folk is my thing, so I liked this album. It could lose a few tracks to be tighter, but overall I enjoyed it.

no.

To mellow for me

Weird

heavy

very chill, maybe too chill

definitely not your average gym album but it was a good enough album it didn’t even matter. very beautiful throughout. achieves exactly what it sets out to do

How come no one in this guys life suggested he should try actually singing his lyrics

sehr schön

While the title may be confusing, I actually found this to be pretty cool. Callahan’s singing voice almost feels like narration at times. It’s so smooth and deep, really invites you and at least for me was really intriguing. The lyrics are introspective and thoughtful, feel very honest. The album also has a very specific feel to it, kind of a zen. Even in the more intense or darker tracks like “Eid Ma Clack Shaw” his voice still keeps the tracks grounded. Two songs could sound completely different and be about completely different subjects but his voice keeps you focused and invested. I really loved this album. It has a lot of what I look for in a “good” album and I’d listen again and again. 4 stars.

Discovered his music a couple of years ago, and got quite hooked. Just a really laid back vibe throughout the album. Beautifully lush instrumentation and a great characteristic, storytelling voice. There's a bit of a more tense feel to a few songs, that I'm not too keen on. Standout tracks: Jim Cain, The Wind And The Dove, Too Many Birds, All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast, Faith / Void 7 out of 10

2.6/5

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.

Baesd on the album cover and sound, i would have thought this was a soft folky release from 1974. Crazy that this is 2009 music. I do like the title, and there is something that just makes me smile when he gets to the lyric "Eid Ma Clack Shaw"... it is so atypical. I do enjoy that track and Too Many Birds. There are some weird choices, like nearly 10 minutes of telling me to put to god away, but an interesting listen.

2,5

Wonderful album, I love his baritione , so clear and bold and smooth. I love listening to a voice like Bill's tell me a story, and Bill is a wonderful story teller. When I hit play on the album I did not realize that Bill Callahan is Smog, who I know from the albums ed Apple Falls and Dongs of Sevotion, both excellent albums. This one is just as good, a little more modern in production, that is a higher quality recording with more complex arrangements. A quality album by a quality song writer 4 stars

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 bad but it didn’t convince me all the way. It still had some good moments.

lots of thoughts and feelings and sincerity

Så fucking bra. Otroligt mysigt album

Not for me

This was a new artist to me, and I mostly really enjoyed the slow, easy feel of this music and soothing voice.

If this don’t make your booty move, your booty must be dead!! And by that I mean move to the couch or bed and lie down.

There aren't many people from whom I would accept claptrap like "Rococo Zephyr" but listening to Bill Callahan makes me feel like I'm in the presence of a protective Big Brother Bear and nothing will harm me as long as I'm in earshot of his comforting voice. His vocal range is approximately three notes and he sings a lot about trees and branches and birds and different kinds of birds and rivers and yet...I love him and I love this album. ...ro-co-co...

This was completely new to me but I fell in love with the title and cover of this album having no idea what the music might be. I was a bit smitten by the deadpan delivery of the opening track. I have a place for subdued, contemplative music definitely and can appreciate music that’s a bit askew. Bill Callahan ticks those boxes…

Its country, so I expected to hate this. I'm as shocked as you are to say, I kinda dug it. It's almost like prog country (which isn't a thing I don't think) it's super varied, he's vocals/talking work really well with it. It's almost like what I think Tom Waites should be, simple vocals with interesting and varied music.

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.

Yeah, this is something special. Warm and sad and kind

Is this Nick Cave's younger brother?

No. Just... no. Pretentious AF. Boring production, lazy performances, and stupid lyrics. I got more and more mad at it as the album progressed. By the end, I was absolutely blind with fury that I had to sit through 48 minutes of this garbage, navel-gazing, fake, cowboy wannabe nonsense.

7/10

Spoken word weirdness. Oddly calming.

Yet another not-super-memorable solid album. It had a very the national type vibe going but also early 2010s bedroom pop. Faith/void was probs my favorite track but the radio that came on after the album was almost even better.

Quality singer songwriting which grew on me with every listen. Callahan seems a fascinating artist and one to peruse further.

I was finding it hard to place this. But I definitely enjoyed certain elements of it. Relaxing

This was cool. He has a really nice voice and there was some really interesting bit. Can't say I'll listen to it a lot but I'm glad I have.

Would be great study music. Albums like this are probably the best example of what I was hoping to get from the the 1001 albums. Maybe the first 4 that hasnt come from an album/artist I already know.

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.

Je suis mitigé sur cet album mais je vais donner qu'il y a une unicité à cette album qui est très respectable. Je ne suis pas tellement fan de la voix, mais en même temps c'est tellement original des autres musiciens country que c'est très rafraichissant. Musicalement c'est très bien. Je pense que je devrais le réécouter pour mieux me faire une idée. 6/10

Have no idea how I knew one song, since his name was unfamiliar. It was a smooth and uneventful listen. [0142/1001]

Blown away by this one. Wasn't expecting much but songs I'm excited to hear again!

Via deze lijst krijg je een hoop voor je kiezen. Interessant, leuk, vervelend, verrassend, herrie, saai, gaaf... Dat soort termen gebruik ik wekelijks meerdere keren, maar de muziek die ik via deze lijst beluister is zelden 'mooi'. Sterker nog, ik heb na 367 albums pas 3 keer een album mooi genoemd. Wat is het dan fijn als de muziek op een album eens een keer gewoon mooi is. Een lekker diepe stem en een zangstijl die haast vertellend is, maar toch is het ook wel echt gezongen. Lastig te omschrijven. Het doet denken aan Nick Cave, maar het komt een stuk minder depressief en een stuk warmer over. Een soort stoner folk. Lekkere strijkers, af en toe een lieve vrouwenstem, een lekker breed en vol stereo geluid, fantastische productie. De instrumenten komen allemaal tot hun recht en de zang sluit er goed bij aan. Ik vermoed dat ik deze vaker ga aanzetten en ik denk dat dit wel eens dé ontdekking van deze lijst van 2024 kan zijn voor mij. 5 sterren.

Had never heard of this guy. ?Alt-country. Really love the tone of his voice and the quality of the recording. Deceptively someone but well executed. The last two tracks aren't as good as the others. The penultimate track seems like a complete throwaway. Will be listening to this again and will try other album by this artist.

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.

Bill Callahan seems to be a funny dude...

Love everything bill touches such a great songwriter and not a bad singer either.

I loved this it was wonderful

Lovely

Poetic, great

I can’t slot this album neatly into a sub-genre. Alternative country? Easy listening folk? It’s not quite country and not quite folk. The deadpan sing-speaking throughout is boring (reminds me of The National’s Matt Berninger baritone voice, but without the charisma). One point for the line “All my fine memories are fucking me down” in ‘Eid Ma Clack Shaw’. Overall: 1/10

This was a trippy album to listen to. Vocals were monotone but in a pleasing way? The lyrics were beautiful if only a little repetitive but it never got annoying. It just pulled you in to a trance and kind of slowed everything down.

Never heard this before but It was great!

Great record. Though I would suggest a couple of his albums as Smog are better, especially Dongs Of Sevotion and Red Apple Falls -- two unheralded classics from the mid-late '90s.

I really only liked the first song it's like really good!

I dont mind this album. I like thr instrumentals but the songs are really long and I dont love the talking singing style

Spoken word type of stuff isn't my jam. I'm sorry couldn't listen to all this album. I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow and want to crank some Quiet Riot or Twisted Sister!

Is Cowboy Folk a genre? The play by play of his nature walks might as well be narration of a low budget 70’s kids show. Hated the pretend John Prine vocals.

Nice voice, but that's it

A bit boring

Less boring than I should have found this.

Exceptionally boring

What a lovely album

Mucho interesting, thanks 1001.

Wow, I really enjoyed this, very unique. Going to check out the stuff he did as Smog. A lovely find.

A great record, front to back, and my introduction to one of my favourite songwriters. A 4 only because I think he surpassed it both before and after this record.

This was outstanding. Dark. Melodic. One of the more emotional singers I have ever heard. I will be revisiting this and his catalog.

I have grown up most of my life listening to what isn't quite country music, but rather an Americana-esque genre with vocals that don't grate my ears as they come out of the speakers. This includes groups like the Avett Brothers, later Johnny Cash, and to an extent, Wilco, Violent Femmes (at points), Nick Drake, etc, etc. Despite this, I've never come across this album to any capacity, despite releasing at the peak of my family introducing me to what would develop as a part of my music taste. This is not the first time that has happened, as I See A Darkness by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy also sort of falls into this blind spot, but unlike with this album, where I think things like the vocals and the stripped down production hindered my enjoyment of that album, this album only flourished with its sombre, vocals backed by lush, sweeping strings that make me naturally sway, and make me feel as though I'm encountering an old friend in the form of a genre I've not embraced in a long while. The vocals are simple, and flat, but they carry the same weight Nick Cave's similar demeanour sometimes presents, and I really do get entranced by the orchestra. I do find the album tends to drag out its songs a tad, and in such, loses its luster rather than ending in a big, moving finale, but that start is something that really felt like something electrifyingly chilling, yet also like a warm embrace, and it made the album something I did really adore at points. The whole package is a little lacking, and I don't think it will sell anyone on a genre they didn't already have a relationship with, but I really got into this, and can only see myself liking it more on re-visits.

Quite dreary and 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.

Alright like.

# 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'm surprised. I didn't expect to like a genre like alternative county, but in the end I do. A nice and smooth sound.

This is actually kind of beautiful was a little drag at times but damn very nice

This is just a brilliant album. Song after song are memorable, simple melodies, beautifully performed. Some similarities in places with, among others, Nick Drake, Richard Hawley, Sun Kil Moon. The standard is high throughout. Strongly recommended

The power went out halfway through this album and it was a blessing. This is not for me.

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.

Bill Callahan has dropped his 'Smog'moniker and has been flexing his musical muscles with more refined and less lo-fi music under his own name. The music still has the main Smog signifiers though: his baritone voice, lack of choruses, repetative phrases and guitar motifs. The music is understated and acoustic with the odd synth or bubble or electronic surfacing and then disappearing again. Sometimes it's more of an atmosphere piece than a folk album. Best Tracks: Jim Cain; Eid Ma Clack Shaw; Too Many Birds

Absolutely perfect from first sound to last music. 5/5

What a voice! Never heard of BC before. A real surprise and very listenable.

Unbearable.

3 - I honestly don't remember a lot about this album, but I do really like a song on here and I remember most of the album being nice enough. I might not go out of my way to listen to it again, but it was a nice experience.

Pretty chill opening, Overall nice instrumentals and I enjoyed it.

It's the "Hey, come and listen to the album your uncle recorded in a real studio with the money he won at that poker game last month" album.

Nice music

this is smog! it's a super enjoyable album

sehr ... sedierend 🥱

I wasn’t into it at first but then I was

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from this one. I knew Bill Callahan by name but had never really sat with a full album properly. This feels like one of those records that demands patience rather than immediate reaction. His voice is the first thing you notice. It is deep, calm and completely unhurried. There is something very steady about the way he delivers lines, almost conversational but with real weight behind it. The music matches that mood perfectly. Gentle strings, subtle arrangements and songs that take their time to unfold. Nothing feels rushed. Lyrically it is intelligent and often very dry. There is humour in there but it is subtle and understated. The album feels reflective without being self indulgent. It is not a record packed with big hooks or obvious singles, but the more you listen the more it draws you in. It is not an instant classic for me, and at times it can feel a little emotionally distant. But there is depth here and it rewards attention. This feels like a quiet Sunday morning album, one you put on when you want something thoughtful and measured rather than loud or dramatic. Favourite song: Eid Ma Clack Shaw Least favourite song: Too Many Birds Album artwork: Moody and striking. The cover suits the tone of the music perfectly.

Jim Cain - 8.5/10 Eid Ma Clack Shaw - 8/10 The Wind And The Dove - 8/10 Rococo Zephyr - 8/10 Too Many Birds - 8/10 My Friend - 8/10 All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast - 8/10 Invocation of Ratiocination- 8/10 TOTAL - 72.5/90

This one had a great overall feel to it that ran through out. Need to hear more of this.

o final eh otimo dou 3.5/5 pq o começo me deu uma preguiça

Kind of slow and basic to me

This album felt like Portland in the early aughts in the most boring way possible. There were some tracks I didn't mind, but man the closing track was horrendous. Not just the content, but lazy songrwriting, and monotone singing ended this album on a really flat note.

Very introspective and pensive album. The subtle string arrangements in the background color these songs beautifully, especially on the excellent opener. This album also sounds like it could have come out any time in the last 50 years, its era-less.

Awesome album. Liked it far more than I remembered from past listens. 4.5/5

Voz profunda y un tanto melódica para una sucesión de canciones con ritmo tranquilo, sosegado y fácil de escuchar. No había escuchado anteriormente nada de este cantante y no me ha parecido malo

Oh wow, no.

Absolutely dull. Sounds like the dude was trying hard to be John Prine but completely missed the mark. A real snooze fest.

Sometimes I wonder how some of these albums get put on this list. Ugh, this was dreadful.

I find his voice calming.

The fact that this is on here and not Smog is kinda baffling to me.

Kinda reminds me a bit of Lambchop. Like Lambchop I find it... okay. It's comfy but beyond that, eh..

4.0 - Poetic lines delivered over a lush soundscape of deep Americana with Callahan’s dry baritone. Reminds me of Giant Sand’s “Chore of Enchantment.” Standouts: “Rococo Zephyr”, “Too Many Birds”

Very boring. I didn't like it at all but it's hard to say it wasn't good. Most likely just not for me. The lyrics seemed clever and interesting but the voice was awful and the music wasn't much better.

I always feel like I'd like to get into this sort of music but I think it's just not really clicking. Some of the lyrics are pretty good and has voice has a certain uniqueness.

3.5 / 5

The original alternative rock album.

1st

Didn't vibe the slow lazy feeling of the songs

Det är ok. Men inte mkt mer. Ibland för lite melodi

Finns nåt där, men når inte riktigt upp till en 3:a. Lite väl trött i längden, men eventuellt skulle jag kunna omvärdera efter en till lyssning

Bra. Men inte jättebra. Blir lite enformigt. Det är dock behagligt. Rösten är intressant. Han sjunger inte så bra men det är ändå en rätt skön röst. My friend är bäst! Texten, I ended up in search of ordinary things Like how can a wave possibly be? Ironi? För inte kan det vara så banalt som det på ytan är? Kommer nog inte lyssna på igen.

Trevligt och annorlunda

Även om han har en djup och bra röst så sjunger han inte superbra och det märks att han är rätt begränsad. Med det sagt så är det behaglig lyssning och texter bättre än genomsnittligt. Bäst låtar är All thoughts are prey to some beasts och Jim Cain.

would give it a zero if i could.

Beautiful and poetic folk record

The final track, Faith/Void, is the same name as a split LP that Dischord records released in the 80s. I can’t find any information online regarding the reference but I appreciated it and I enjoyed the song. Good dog walking music. I felt introspective while listening and that can be a gift.

Very interesting. Had not heard of him nor heard his music, but I was drawn in by this album. Something about the way he composes and performs, can't quite put my finger on it, that I like.

Slow but good. He sounds like he’s reading slam poetry. The music is enjoyable. Could care less for the singing. It didn’t add but it didn’t take away either. The last song had no right to be that long. Otherwise I wouldn’t mind hearing it again. 7/10

Fantastic voice. Reminds me of Leonard Cohen how his voice just flows like honey and he isn't trying to meet notes he can't touch. Some alternative style songs on the album that are great like Eid Ma Clack Shaw that are sooooo unique. A sad album that makes you emotional listening to the lyrics. Couple of songs i can do without but this is a heavy 8/10

Serene slow music with a tone deaf man sing talking nonsense. 4/10

Is this a parody album? I honestly cant tell. Its not good, in any case. 1/5

Too depressing

I'd never heard of Callahan before this listen. He's got a soothing, pleasant baritone voice that fits the slightly dark tone of the music - like a more tuneful Leonard Cohen. I liked this quite a lot.

Alternative country.

Nothing special

This was one of the more interesting finds I've gotten from this list in a while. At first his voice was a bit off-putting, but once I got used to it I could see that these are some really interesting, thoughtful songs. I love the use of strings as well. Will definitely be listening more. 4 stars.

Really enjoyed this. Great songwriting. Need half stars so I can give this a 4.5

Mycket intressant. Kanske inte det bästa man hört men lite kul och annorlunda.

Prog-Country ? Wtf lol j'ai vu cette classification en quelque part. Peut-etre juste le titre de l'album qui fait country. C'est beaucoup plus folk / chansonnier. Pas mauvais mais c'est vraiment produit à fond, mais rien n'en sort vraiment. 3.5

Inoffensive.

Insular and unique. 3.5 stars rounded up.

I came into this album expecting to not like it, but I’m a photo Leonard Cohen / Prog Country way, I enjoyed this. 4/5

Chill and soothing

the first half of the album he talk-sings like he doesn't want to be there. only 2 good songs: all thoughts are prey to some beast, and faith/void

nice mix of indie rock and folk, invocation of ratiocination is a sleeper hit and i will not stand for slander, does get a little slow at times

Sounds like music of great quality, but it's either not my style at all or there's something that's very off in some other aspect of the music.

Sounds like it wants to be calm & resolute but doesn't have the confidence to sit still. Too many frills in the backing makes it all less memorable. Last song sounds like Silver Jews but doesn't really get there. music: appreciated. (⌐o_0)

Lots to like here, nice voice, nice production, nice songs.

Beautiful

I’m already somewhat familiar with Bill Callahan, but only his newer music. Listening to this album, it doesn’t seem like he’s changed much over the years. Not a bad thing at all though. Wish some of the songs were shorter, but that’s really the only complaint I can make. Really nice album all around. I should really listen to it again sometime. 7.5/10 1. Too Many Birds 2. Jim Cain 3. Eid Ma Clack Shaw

Who knew the former Nebraska football coach had a recording career in him?

Bit of a strange album, really enjoy his voice and some of the songs are fantastic. Whereas others I wasn’t the biggest fan of. I will definitely be listening to more of his stuff though.

AJ: nice playing and damn near poetic. The dry deep voice is different, and the songs seem to have no structure. It’s kinda cool, but so strange. Feels like he’s trying to be funny, but it’s just funny.

Lyrically interesting, I really appreciated All Thoughts are Prey to some Beast for the beautiful imagery, and Faith/Void also resonated with me :)) different vocals than expected though, not my favorite but I enjoyed vibing to it just this once, gave me Montana or Wyoming camping vibes? Americana-core for Thanksgiving yuh

oh no, i did nOT wish I was an eagle clearly not my current vibe so I'll have to grade this down to maybe a 2* :((( sorry Bill

Who the fuck mixed this mans voice, because they might have made the most uncomfortably “close” feeling vocals I’ve ever heard. Sounds like dude is inside of my ear canal. Music isn’t bad, gets into a bit of progressive feeling folk with experimental shit mixed around. Unfortunately any semblance of enjoyment is dispersed by the atrocious vocals. Nothing caught my ear, but instrumental aspects were fairly polished, so that bumps it to a 2.

"It's time to put God away" 🤘 It's a kinda weird album honestly, a bit love or hate probably. I'm leaning love though.

I have to admit: the title, the horses, the script and name Bill made me expect another album with whiny vocals and much too much harmonica. Instead I got something atmospheric, a little dark and wonderful wonderful cellos.

mild and lovely, kind of like a more hippie James Taylor. 3 stars.

I really enjoyed this album, and I normally don't like the sort of slow folksy singer song writer music but this one stuck with me. I saved Eid Ma Clack Shaw, that was really cool. Along with the album cover, this really felt like something to listen to while standing out in a field like that with some horses.

Definitely enjoyed this one. Not sure if I've heard Bill Callahan before, he's got a very distinct voice that I really dig. The songs that hit here really hit, and the rest of the album was pretty good too. Not too much stylistically to speak of, it seems like a singer-songwriter type of project with a special focus on his talents as a singer. Aside from, of course, the "Invocation" track, which is a really cool ambient song. But overall, definitely a good album. Always fun to find an album I like that I've never even heard of. Also the title is bizarre and pretty funny. Favorite tracks: Jim Cain, Too Many Birds, Invocation of Ratiocination. Album art: Pretty unassuming, horses in a field. Honestly kind of amazed this is from 2009, based on the cover, the font and everything, I would've guessed late '60s or early '70s. I like that. 3.5/5

This is good like every Callahan/Smog release but I’ve always had a bit of a disconnect with it because it’s like too pretty for one of his albums - which is maybe why it’s so beloved?

Geen fan van de stijl van de zanger, en de muziek was ook wat saai

Slow, didn’t bother

couldnt get past the draining voice

Snooze

Alternative country.

5/10 - Great vocals - weird album A lot of slow talking but deep thinking

I thought I was going to love this album for the first couple of tracks, the stripped-down simplicity and strange plainness of Bill’s voice really appealed to me, but the further along I got the more it felt like pretty good poems set awkwardly to music by someone who’s more a lyricist than a musician. I would’ve enjoyed this as a poetry zine, but as an album it got boring fast.

Started slow but i came to really enjoy

Strong 4

8.5/10, I thought his vocals were going to be grating for a second but it fits the material very well

Good voice, could listen to this on a road trip. Nothing crazy just a casual listen.

At first, I didn't recognize Bill Callahan's name, until I looked at the Wikipedia page and saw that he is Smog. "Songs of Devotion" is a 5/5 to me, an amazing album, and "Accumulation: None" also got a lot of play from me. "Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle" doesn't hit me the same way as "Songs of Devotion," but it is still very good. I definitely want to revisit both his Smog and Bill Callahan releases, as I did lose track of him, at one point, and I am glad to see he is still making great music.

I like that one song but a pretty wild and bland ride otherwise. Good voice though

Faith/Void has to be one of the best repetitive songs ever, I love it

Jim Cain- 3.7/5 Eid Ma Clack Shaw- 4.1/5 The Wind and the Dove- 4.3/5 Rococo Zephyr- 3.9/5 Too Many Birds- 4.5/5 My Friend- 3.6/5 All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beas- 4/5 Invocation of Ratiocination- 3.1/5 Faith / Void- 3.6/5 Total- 3.9/5

Someone’s been listening to Nick Drake. Solid album, very daintily beautiful.

Fucking sucks lol

thunka thunka cowboy songs. His voice reminds me a little of josh ritter's though. I like the music a lot! 4 stars.

This album has a magical feel to it

I didn’t get it until “My Friend” and “All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast” and then I understood it.

Nytt för mig. Älskade starten. Håller inte helt igenom. Avslutas vackert med Frith/Void. It’s time to put God away.

It's fine. Talk singing. It's not my bag but the guy is a talented lyricist.

A nice background noise, but nothing grabbed my attention until a track called 'Outer space' - but then I found this wasn't on the album, but was actually a John Grant track recommended by Spotify (the album had ended)!

Oh my god how calm it is. I love this.

Not enjoyable

While I certainly don't hate this album, it definitely feels like it made the list through a bit of recency bias when the book was published. Its a good album, but seems a little obscure to make a list like this one. Too Many Birds and My Friend are very good songs that have been added to my playlist.

I enjoyed some of it

Decent, quite calm and atmospheric album

Amazing production

Best Song: Faith/Void. Although verging on overlong, it felt like this was an actual opportunity for the songwriter to tell a story with depth. Worst Song: Invocation of Ratiocination. Don't know what that old-timey ghost was doing on this record, but get her off of there. Overall: Extraordinarily plain. The lyricism is indeed nice, but his voice is not so interesting as others (e.g., Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen), to really keep you interested.

martmuziek, eerste nummer is prima, rest zeik

Unexpectedly kinda liked this one and also vibed with the following Spotify radio.

Not bad but it's kinda boring

If I could rate lower than 1 star I would

3.5

I was hooked from the first sounds. The songwriting is gloriously clever, the instrumentation is a fantastic accompaniment to the themes of each song, and the album as a whole is a really good concept. Also goodness, I wasn't familiar with Bill Callahan coming into this, but I'm a fan. What an awesome bass-baritone voice.

Sounded a lot like Swans. Surprisingly genuine.

Dark, but enjoyable

Phenomenal album! Reminds me a lot of silver jews but a bit more happy

Adore it, mellow and quirky

Big surprise, knew it would be good, but also expected boring - saw Callahan once in Prague 21 years ago doing a solo concert, and quite a few Smog songs that sounded great on album did not hold up. Might be the case with this collection as well, but on the album they all sound great apart from Faith/Void, which is ok but a bit dull even with tasteful instrumentation. favourite song: Too Many Birds + Eid Ma Clack Shaw (but the latter could simply be as it is Psycho Killer in disguise :-) ). overall score: 8/10 (classic Smog would be 9/10 or 10/10, but perhaps the comparison to older work, with different song structures, is a bit unfair for an artist that has simply made too much high-quality music over the years to keep track of)

This could have been a solid 4 star album, were it not for the occasionally cringing style of singing. There are definitely some pretty good moments, and I quite like the sound of the band and overall arrangement, but often I got the feeling that music and lyrics had been written completely independently and everything was forced together afterwards. It's ti ... hi hi hi hime... to put God a-way (repeated endlessly).

Some interesting music here albeit rather slooow. And the vocals don't appeal to me.

Listened Before? N I can see how this would be some folks' favorite album/artist. To me, it just got old after a few songs. The story telling was okay, the music was a novelty for a bit, but then it all started to blend together. Too much of the same tempo and sound. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Jim Cain

Good album! I skimmed through the last song (Faith/Void), it's super long and repetitive. Important to the album's story of processing through a hard breakup, but for me the album would have been improved by shortening or cutting that one.

This is a dreamy, mellow, laid back, almost spoken word album that was easy to listen to. And ultimately, I suspect, just as easy to forget.

pretty nice. "faith / void" doesn't need to be 9 minutes long and "my friend" felt forgettable, but "jim cain" and "all thoughts are prey to some beast" are really good

Surprisingly into this

amazing

I've enjoyed some Smog in my time. This was ok.

Lovely voice, prefer smog. This was not as interesting

Bland, tedious, and his voice is annoying.

Irritating and captivating at the same time. Need to listen more, but not today.

surprisingly pleasant.

Brilliantly Unique. 4/5

Very strange that this is on here while there are no albums by Smog. Pleasant stuff nonetheless

Kändes repetitivt, tråkigt och oinspirerat på alltför många låtar. Varför inget av smog?

Listened to the first half during the day doing errands and didn’t get it. Listened to the second half at night just sitting around and loved it.

Although not an unpleasant listen, there's not really enough going on here to leave a mark, other than his Lou Reedesque voice. The songs are not as strong as Lou Reed's.

Interesting find - beautiful moments and occasionally sublime - but words feel too awkward to be a great record. Still fun and pretty.

Really pretty and calming voice, dude should be reading audiobooks. Why name album after Eagle but put horse on cover? Overall p good (3.5/5)

My first experience with spoken word country (no, what he's doing here can't be counted as singing). Hopefully it's the last one too. The drummer phoned it in, the strings are ample, and the poetry is so intentionally ambiguous, it makes us wish we were a cormorant. See what us did there? Two cormorants out of five

Beautiful voice, average music, average experience. Bill Callahan seemed to mastered a certain subgenre of low-fi pop/ kind of country(?) music. And while some of the songs were interesting, with a simple set up going for few minutes, it was just too overwhelming for the duration of the whole album. It was nice to listen to "Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle", but more likely it will be my first and last encounter with Bill.

Normally I'd love an album with a cover like this but honestly I restarted the first track three times because I just couldn't pay attention. Not sure how this made the top 1001 list but maybe I'm just in a mood?

The title really built this one up but it was honestly pretty underwhelming. It wasn't bad it just felt like a straight, less good Orville Peck. I liked Too Many Birds, Faith/Void was by far my least favorite the whole song is 10 minutes and it's literally the same thing over and over again.

Fairly dull

Beautiful slow compositions, but not a fan of spoken word singing. Album isn’t for me.

Musical identity here is flitting; Callahan's voice arrives with force for the familiar and, one assumes, the new. So it makes sense that the melodies cradling it stretch to five minutes and feel like two. The subject's somewhere in America, and that's both un- and important: Maneuvers over the album are sufficient motivation.

This record is great. It doesn't prevent me from frequently mixing up Bill Callahan with Will Oldham, but it helps. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This is wonderful

This was interesting. I kinda like it.

Not previously familiar. Pretty nice.

Another Bill Calahan/Smog record that I swerve past, saluting it, lingering over parts, but not falling in love. That might happen one day. This is at least a good record, could be a great one, but a suspicious part of me doesn't trust it completely, the theatricality, the seductive podcaster monologue enunciations. Which is absurd: so much that I love revels in artificiality and exaggeration. I hope to return to this one day, for now a rueful 3.

Was quite excited to get this, as I am a strong casual fan and have not heard this in full. Some of his loveliest work on here, I think, and I'll probably add it to the collection. Jim Cain is exquisite, Eid Ma Clack Shaw poignantly funny, Faith/Void masterful. 2 listens, purchased and 5*

I loved the vocals on this one unlike others here. The instrumentals were beautiful and perfect for a sunny morning. Soolid album, which based on the cover art I didnt think Id like.

Great album

À la surprise générale

la radio de l’album 💆‍♀️

It's time to put God away.

Solid, not sure I'd put this ahead of his Smog output

No guardé temas pero fluye bien.

Quite an interesting album. Bill Callahan has an enormous presence thanks to his incredible voice telling tales of wonder on this album. Pretty nifty singer-songwriter album overall.

I went into this thinking I would like it, and the instrumentation and lyrics are great, but Callahan’s vocals really drag it down for me. His voice is very similar to Mark Kozelek’s, which is not something I enjoy. Maybe if the vocals weren’t so front and center in the mix this would work for me.

"Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle" by Bill Callahan is an album that struggles to leave a lasting impact. Released in 2009, it's a collection of introspective and somber tracks that aim for emotional depth but often come across as monotonous. Tracks like "Eid Ma Clack Shaw" and "All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast" showcase Callahan's deep voice and reflective lyrics. The album's production is minimalist, which complements its contemplative atmosphere. However, the album's pacing can be sluggish, and its introspective nature might alienate listeners seeking more dynamic engagement. While it holds moments of emotional honesty, "Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle" lacks the diversity and intrigue needed to maintain a consistently engaging listening experience.

Good stuff 4

Huh? What just happened here? The only thing I came away with from this album is the fact that I could be a lead singer in a band that somehow got a recording contract. Oh and even though you changed one note, nice job stealing the bass line from Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” on “Eid Ma Clack Shaw”

Moody, somber lyric-driven folky tunes.

Considering it has 'country' in the genre name, this wasn't too bad. The growly spoken word stuff is a bit silly though, it perhaps takes itself a bit seriously

This was... Hard to quantify really. I absolutely listened to it all and stayed engaged but did I enjoy it? No, not particularly. It wasn't offensive and the music was quite nice to listen to, but I just don't enjoy talky folk and his deep voice seemed to be almost sleep inducing to me.

It’s timeeee to kill this guy. I’ve never hated a last song in my entire life this is so terrible it’s awful there’s nothing good about this disgusting slow boring grumbly album.

Reading the description before I read it, I thought "man am I gonna hate this" - very open-minded, I know. But....the music gets me right away; it's gentle and simple, slowly meandering, but something/s in it are immediately infectious. Ok the singing. I'll say that his voice is...unorthodox. And after just once sentence I was thinking "o boy here we go..." but it works, and fits perfectly with the music. Take the lead track "Jim Cain" - ah, it sounds so stupid writing about how a song sounds or makes you feel if you think about it for like 3 seconds - but this song is like a soundtrack for a slow-motion wide-open panorama, driving or flying over the north american rocky mountains or floating down a river. Immediate images that were put into my head upon hearing it. ... so yes, back to his voice or rather "the vocals" (because it's more the dry and up-front style of recording that's the primary aural landing point, rather than "his voice" per se) - it can be really off-putting at times. It's just ... unusual - but it fits. And since I first wrote that, I've listened 2x more and it is just part of the music for me now. This is throwing me though: I just read someone comparing him to Leonard Cohen which now I'm going to have to re-evaluate my entire existence due to the fact that Leonard Cohen is on my permanent no-fly-list so now how can I go on. Dammit no. Seriously tho his vocals remind me more of a better Canadian: Mendelson Joe. Worst cut: "Faith/Void" - not due to the lyrics (because i completely agree) but <pun alert> JESUS ok ok yes it is time to put god thusly stated roughly 78 times so goddamned <2nd pun!> laconically. The music is so nice and would have been a great instrumental at half the length to gently fade the album out, instead it was a bad misstep. Anyways - against all odds overall I like it quite a bit. I think more than it's just "different" but the music is at once accessible yet not simple. Excellent and detailed arrangements. It's not for everyone, it won't even be for me that often, but I will definitely listen to this again. ....but boy do I know someone who is gonna *hate* this ... :D 7/10 4 stars

I always enjoy going into these albums completely unaware as to what to expect, and I was not disappointed with this one. Shades of Leonard Cohen.

This was really good. Great songs, great voice. And an album I'll put back on when the weather gets colder and the fire goes up.

The songs are something I picture a dad singing to his kids at bedtime and they like them until they turn 10. I'm over 10 years old and not his kid.

I listened to this twice, two days apart and it sounded much better, nicely integrated the second time around. I like the soft electric guitar and string arrangements. The up-front spoken vocals are still the stumbling block for me.

If anyone in Indie-dom has a more sonorous and deep voice I haven't heard them yet. I've liked Callahan since his Smog days, and he continues here with his fractured, intimate and poignant style of singing and song-writing here. I would compare him to other highly regarded American Indie Artists such as Andrew Bird, Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon, Kurt Wagner of Lambchop, and maybe also Sufjan Stevens - albeit his voice is the polar opposite of Stevens' almost fragile, whisper-like musings. I don't see any other Smog or Callahan albums on this list so I'll round it up a bit.

chill but kinda ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Not for me

It takes a few songs for this album to warm up, but once it gets there, this is really nice. Not a fan of Bill Callahan's vocal, but there are some lovely guitar and string arrangements that I'm enjoying here. The lyrics are thoughtful and eloquent, worth reading on their own like poetry. Fave Songs: Rococo Zephyr, Too Many Birds, All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast, Faith/Void, The Wind and the Dove

Fascinating, compelling, emotional. Strong Nick Drake resemblance.

The lyrics tend to be cryptic but still seem profound and the vocals, while maybe not technically gifted, are very pleasant. He’s no Bob Dylan but he’s got those two things going for him. Pleasantly surprised

At first listen Bill Callahan seems to fit in well with the songwriters of the early seventies like Townes Van Zandt, Nick Drake, and Lou Reed. It’s always refreshing to find well-composed, underground, and almost poetic music emerging in the 21st century. I can confidently say that “Jim Cain” is the most well written song we’ve gotten that (likely) none of us has ever heard, and even the very first lines are worth taking a deeper dive into. Why is he looking for the ordinary, as opposed to the extraordinary? Things don’t turn out as planned, but how do things end? Callahan’s songs take on a variety of experimental lyrical structures, such as the pyramid buildup in the back half of “Too Many Birds” and the well-placed repetition in “Faith/Void.” But more significantly, they invoke a variety of images in our minds. “All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast” is a stroll through the Columbia River Gorge while an angry Pacific storm brews out west. “Invocation of Ratiocination” is an eerily still midnight on the usually gusty Dakota plains. “Rococo Zephyr” is a warm breeze over whichever backyard creek makes you most yearn for the carefree days of youth. Stylistically, the album is a crossover between mid-career Beatles (particularly “Eleanor Rigby” from Revolver and “Blue Jay Way” from Magical Mystery Tour) and Transformer by Lou Reed. Bill Callahan’s lyrics are as rich as any and go far beyond most on even this list. I’d never heard of Callahan or anything by him, but I’ll definitely take a look at his catalog. I’m not sure if he found what he was looking for on his search for ordinary things, but with this album he’s certainly given us something more than ordinary.

I didn't really get the appeal. He has an interesting sound, sure but it's just not doing it for me.

I enjoyed this, even if it felt a little more theatrical than my usual tastes, but really, it just made me want to listen to a Silver Jews record.

This is fantastic, one of the best discoveries so far

I really enjoyed this album. The alt-county/folk music is supplemented by a phenomenal and lush arrangement that lends a grandeur to the album. Bill Callahan's baritone speak singing style is arresting and demands attention though I see why some find it off putting. The result is an expansive record full of idiosyncrasies and very interesting musical and vocal choices. It is definitely an album that I need to return to so I can really make up my mind.

Decent singer songwriter

Bill Callahan is yet another musician that has never come onto my radar before now. I can’t speak of any preconceptions as it is someone I’ve never heard of. the album art seems peaceful and happy, so let’s see what the album brings. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Too Many Birds I listened to this together with my stinky other half while driving from Salisbury to Bath, and our opinions seems quite in sync. At the beginning, we both found the music quite charming, but we disliked the vocals. We both discussed how sometimes in music, if you’re a man with a deep voice then it doesn’t really matter if you can sing well or not (Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, etc.). However, as the album went on, it did start to win us both over. I think I said at one point, “This is actually quite lovely,” to which there was agreement from smelly Rach. Overall, this was a nice album but I’m not sure it was strong enough to keep me listening again.

This was pretty good

All these Callahan albums sound exactly the same and cover the same thematic ground every time, you would think he would at least find something different to write about or a different tuning to try after a while

Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle is the second solo album by American singer-songwriter and musician Bill Callahan. This alternative country album received many positive reviews from critics and charted decently in both Europe and the US. It was a relaxing country record to listen to and I appreciated having a chance to hear it. Although it's not my go-to music choice.

The best artist I’ve discovered so far on the platform. His deep clear voice sounds a bit like an indie Leo Kottke, the lyrics are thought provoking, but it’s the musical arrangements that blew me away. The varied melodic syncopation has uncommon feeling and depth to it. In particular My Friend and All Thoughts are Prey to Some Beast propelled this to a 5 star album from a solid 4.

truly beautiful. The songwriting is heartwrenching and gorgeous. lush and full instrumentation and mixing. best tracks: Eid Ma Clack Shaw, Too Many Birds, Roccoco Zephyr

really liked this

A little bland and sleep-inducing, but never unpleasant.

Fine and interesting folk and perhaps one I should have liked more than I did but on first listen it didn't grab me. One to revisit in the future though.

"Well this guy can't sing and his music is slow and boring. Let's put his album in the 1001 albums list anyway" - Robert Dimery, probably. 2/5.

I don't even know what to say about this nightmare.

Enjoyable voice and a good time

Country que funcionou bem como música ambiente.

I love Smog, and I'm pretty sure Bill Callahan has written and performed many gems during his subsequent career under his real name--I've been checking him out once in a while, just like you get news from a former good friend you don't see so much anymore, just to make sure he's alright. But I'd be lying if I said I knew the contents of his "solo" records by heart. So I guess it's nice that this app reminds me of him now... I'll stop beating about the bush, this album is excellent. "Jim Cain" is a perfect Callhanesque melancholic opener. "Eid Ma Clack Shaw" is the sort of surprising groovy cut Bill dabbles with sometimes, bringing welcome energy to the early part of the tracklist. "The Wind And The Dove" is a chiaruscuro wonder where the oriental flourishes and minor chords of the verses provide a stark contrast to the sudden major illuminations gracing the rest of the song. "Rococo Zephyr" is a subtle and touching love song. "Too Many Birds"'s finale provides a sort of gentle epiphany only Callahan is capable (the way the final line of the song is built up from one word from the next over that enticing piano hook at the end of each measure is a stroke of genius). "My Friend" is a mid-tempo oddity that's both tense and joyful, oddly enough (love the female wordless minimalistic backing vocals on that !). "All Thoughts Are Prey To Some Beast" is the experimental centerpiece of the album, a long dirge that uses the metaphor of birds on trees to go inside Callahan's psyche. And after a short instrumental interlude comes the baroque 10-minute closer of the album, the Nietzschean, yet paradoxically soulful, "Faith/Void". In this track, as in many other ones in this LP, the strings section and other lush instrumentation backing Callahan do wonders (that weird melodica at the end!). What's so surprising, in this song as well as other long ones Bill wrote elsewhere, is how time fly by while you listen to them. The American songwriter knows how to put his audience in a meditative state like few of his colleagues can. The only issue that could prevent me from giving five stars to this record is that as great as Bill Callahan is, I have a feeling his records (and some of his songs) are often interchangeable. Which is a problem for a list of "essential" LPs. Which one do you choose, in the end? Maybe 2022's "REALITY" could apply as well? But you can't cram everything in, can you? Wise and world-weary Callahan would probably laugh those vacuous concerns about a "best albums" list away, though. He's too much into the immanent moment to care about such neurotic endeavors. And he's right. So in that spirit, I guess my final grade doesn't matter that much... Number of albums left to listen to: approximately 500 (I've temporarely lost count here). Number of albums I'll include on my list: a half so far, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I *might* include; a quarter approximately. Number of albums I will never include (many others are more important): another quarter.

I’ve tried to listen to this before but gave up. I really enjoyed it this time round. The production and string arrangements are really pleasing.

A bit darker than I was imagining

All a bit boring. It would have disappeared without trace without the performers former pedigree. It's a nice voice and there are some good lyrics here and there. But eminently missable.

Nice work vibes

Unimaginative, unoriginal, and unintriguing. I was hoping that the lyrics would be interesting at the very least, but they’re very bad and I just can’t find anything good to say about this. It couldn’t end soon enough. 1/5

thanks to this list i now know that bill callahan is a shitty country version of tom waits.

Oh piss off, Bill, you nonce

Some kinda weird indie country? It's got some interesting sounds to it but tbh my biggest complaint is that it's mixed like shit

The title of this album angered me. How can more than one person be AN eagle?! Anyhoo, the music was quite good. A but Jack Johnson but with less Hawaii.

Prefer his previous album, but this is still great. Does every singer songwriter post 1990 have a "Nick Drake" phase?

What a voice and what a fantastic group of songs - as good as anything he's done before or since.

Sad cowboy folk? A much more interesting take on the country genre than the fifty "yeehaw pardner we don't like yer kind in Tennessee (banjo solo)" albums I've had to listen to. Reminds me of Nick Cave's "Ghosteen". They both even have a horse in an ethereal environment on the cover. Yeah, I really like this. 4/5

I likes this. I prefer the stuff he released as SMOG.

Little bit boring after while....

One of those artists that I've never got around to listening to. Enjoyable relaxing background music. Reminds me of a cross between Leonard Cohen and Willy Mason.

I found his voice/ style of sing/ talking over the music really grating

Sometimes I wish this wasn't the album of the day.

I'd never heard of Bill Callahan before today. The genre is classed as country, but that isn't the genre I heard upon listening to the album. Wikipedia has it classed more as apocalyptic folk, or doom country... Sounds like they are making up genres, but it does fit better in these categories than just straight "country". This type of music reminds me a lot of Nick Cave's more folk oriented albums. Bill's deep, slow vocal delivery brings with it feelings of gloom and despair. His phenomenal, poetic lyrics really drive these feelings home. He has a philosophical quality to his music. A few examples of deep lyrics include: 1) From the song Eid Ma Clack Shaw (about the death of someone close to him) : Love is the king of the beasts, And when it gets hungry it must kill to eat 2) From the song All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast (The eagle is depression and anxiety, and when he shows up all the smaller birds (good thoughts) fly off): The leafless tree looked like a brain, The birds within were all the thoughts and desires within me, Hoppin' around from branch to branch, Or snug in their nests listenin' in, An eagle came over the horizon, And shook the branches with its sight, The softer thoughts: Starlings, finches and wrens, The softer thoughts, they all took flight Overall, this was an amazingly deep album which was a lot to digest. Thankfully, none of the songs overstay their welcome. I listened to it twice today: once for the lyrics, and the second time for the musical accompaniment. An absolute classic of a record. I will definately listen again. I will say, you have to be in a gold head space in order to enjoy this record. It is very heavy and dark, but if you are open to it, it is absolutely beautiful. Favourite songs: My Friend, Rococo Zephyr, Too Many Birds, Jim Cain, All Thoughts Are Prey to Some Beast, Eid Ma Clack Shaw Least favourite songs: Invocation of Ratiocination 5/5

A near masterpiece from the late 00s. With his baritone voice Callahan grows from the lo-fi approach of Smog to a more personal and developed music. Sometimes you feel him so close it hurts. His particular sense of humour somehow makes the album stronger. Hope always defies despair