Smog - A River Ain't Too Much To Love

  by Geraint Jones

published: 19 / 4 / 2005

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Review

Lyrically engaging from the outset, Bill Callahan’s confessional, more spoken than sung vocals, by turns mournful, deadpan and self-deprecating, never fail to connect. On 'A River Ain’t Too Much To Love', Smog’s umpteenth album since their initial cassette-only forays in t'he late 80s, they have crafted some of their best work to date. Superbly recorded at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio in Texas, the intimate, simple arrangements – essentially guitar, piano, violin and drums, envelop and entrance, Callahan’s distinctive vocals and phrasing reeling you in as if it’s you alone that he is singing to. And that’s a rare quality. His often dark, thought provoking and occasionally humorous worldview further draws you into his captivating songs. Not an album to put on in the background; find quality time to spend with it and you’ll be handsomely rewarded. A sombre understated gem that deserves to be regarded as one of Smog’s best.

Track Listing:-

1 Palimpsest
2 Say Valley Maker
3 The Well
4 Rock Bottom Riser
5 I Feel Like The Mother Of The World
6 In The Pines
7 Drinking At The Dam
8 Running The Loping
9 I'm New Here
10 Let Me See The Colts

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