Released less than a year after the six-years-in-the-making Shepherd in A Sheepskin Vest, Bill Callahan’s seventh outing, Gold Record, was primarily written on the road and was released one song per week over a period of 10 consecutive Mondays – making the album essentially a collection of singles. Callahan’s spontaneous recording and release of Gold Record finds him using his sharp observational songwriting skills in character-based vignettes ranging from politics, breakfast, bedrooms, books and cowboys. Standout tracks include: the charming opener “Pigeons”; the ode to the simple life “Cowboy”; the Blues tinged “Protest Song″; the reworking of the opening track from Smog’s 1999 album Knock Knock “Let’s Move to the Country”; the affecting “As I Wander”; the lighthearted tribute to “Ry Cooder”; and the poignant track “The Mackenzies.” Bill Callahan’s Gold Record sounds effortless and is filled with brilliant songwriting, mellow performances and rich material. It’s another great album and listen from Callahan! – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Damien Jurado, Cass McCombs, Silver Jews, Smog