Smog - Red Apple Falls
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Free Music Notes for Red Apple Falls
Free Music Review: Accessible Smog
Hit: 5 Stars
Smog's Red Apple Falls is indicative of Bill Callahan's direction towards a more easy-to-swallow pill of indie folk. The songs have more form, the instruments are all pretty much conventional instruments, and Callahan's voice has adopted a rather soothing drawl. That's not to say Callahan has dumbed down his sound in any way. Instead of the lo-fi mess-terpiece of Wild Love, we have the country-tinged Red Apple Falls, a record filled with Callahan's usual tales of lost love and lost confidence. The pedal steel takes a rather prominant role on many of the album's more fleshed-out tracks such as "Inspirational," giving the album a sort-of alt-country feel reminiscent of Will Oldham's work. Sitting along with a rather uncharacteristic slice of upbeat pop ("Ex-Con") are some of Callahan's best pieces of minimalist folk. While "Red Apples" and "To Be Of Use" are carried by rather simple piano and guitar figures, they say so much with so little as the cliché goes. Thus with this record, Callahan has proven himself a master of both the full-band and the lone musician. Red Apple Falls is a great starting point for any potential Smog fan.Free Music Review: (classic)
Hit: 5 Stars
I own just about all of the official Smog releases from the gritty home tape recordings, to the newer albums that will keep some steady friends around. This is by far the best (Smog) album that I've heard. Think Leonard Cohen meets The VU w/a touch of beautiful pedal steel over the top of it all. This album really is amazing and it embraces all of the different stylings that Bill Callahan employs throughout all of his works. From violent pop songs set over a cheary beat (ala Ex Con), to the isolated and introspectiveness w/a gritty sense of humor (es Stranger). This album really hits home. The one thing that may annoy new comers to this album is the heavy handedness of all the symbolism that reoccurs throughout the album. To me it's perfect but to others it can possibley ware you down. If you get this album and are looking for more Smog to listen to then the next logical step is Knock Knock. If you own Knock Knock and want more of the same then pick this one up.Free Music Review: Simple brilliance
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is in my opinion one of the top two Smog/Bill Callahan albums and an excellent starting point for one of Bill's "sounds" (the simple stripped-down one he uses on several of his albums). Bill's sound here is simple, but not simplistic. He finds a simple beauty in stripping down his sound and lyrics to what they need to be and no more and telling stories that seem straightforward yet profound. This particular album has some country sounds added to it, but they don't feel out-of-place against his laconic vocals and you don't need to know (or like) country music to like this album. If you're looking for some nu-metal or beatz or noise you aren't going to like this album, but if you want something simple, beautiful, and profound, here you are.Free Music Review: Beautiful, haunting and similar superlatives
Hit: 5 Stars
Bill Callahan never fails to amaze me, this in my mind is the best Smog album that i've heard. A concept album of sorts that details the end of a relationship (his previous LP, The Doctor Came at Dawn seemed to deal with a relationship breaking up while this album is a reflective look back on the affair.) Reminiscent of Lou Reed's Berlin, and at times Leonard Cohen (especially on the track Blood Red Bird) Red Apple Falls gets to the heart of the pain and loss of a love affair ending, the track Red Apples in particular. Simple, sparse and delicate, Bill Callahan is arguably the best balladeer living today.Free Music Review: Smog's Best Album, and one of the best folk/country/rock albums of all time
Hit: 5 Stars
It's hard to say what exact genre this album fits into, because it's omnivorous in the influences and sounds it appropriates. One thing's for sure though--this record is terrific, and very moving.