When an artist is so known by a certain style of performance, style progressions over time are sometimes quite subtle. With that said, it's a fair question to ask if "Why Do Men Sing", the opener on the new Bill Callahan record, indicates a new direction for the former Smog guy.
And while that one sounds a tiny bit like Leon Russell, any lightness in the cuts on My Days of 58, this latest Callahan offering, are not signals that his intensity has been diminished. The heavy "The Man I'm Supposed To Be" is as personal and introspective as Bill's best material from years ago, even as squalling guitars from Bill Callahan and Matt Kinsey give this spark. A peak is hit on "Stepping Out for Air", a real gem with a southern soul flavor thanks to judicious sax work from Dustin Laurenzi, while closer "The World is Still" is moody in the manner of Callahan and Smog stuff from our youth.
My Days of 58 benefits from a robust sound from Bill's band. Drummer Jim White (The Dirty Three) keeps things moving forward, even when Callahan takes an approach which is admirably introspective. It's that mix of Bill's brand of emotional folk rock (for lack of a better term) and the band's cohesive heft as a unit here that gives My Days of 58 not only weight, but a listenability that makes it stand out in Bill Callahan's already impressive discography.
My Days of 58 by Bill Callahan is out on Friday from Drag City.
[Photo: Alex Viscius]