Bill Callahan - Live At Third Man Records

Bill Callahan, fka Smog, is simultaneously a staple of strange American country, lofi, folk and independent music. His lyricism comes across as challenging and deeply autobiographical, equal parts 'poetry leaning on true-to-life darkness' and 'three chords and the truth.' So, it is fi tting that Callahan's live set would command the same sense of friendlinesswith-difficulty that the recorded songs do. With brief, candid, and charming interludes between older and newer material, an outsider can hear that this performance was obviously a full-bodied (and multi-era) engagement, no space left for distraction. 'Jim Cain' is a phenomenal song in any iteration, no doubt about it, but this live recording is unabashedly disrobed, tender, and saved for a sympathetic ear. The full album is an experience; make it one you look after.