Knock Knock (album)
Occupation
- Vocals, guitar, songwriting: Bill Callahan
- Piano: Jim O'Rourke
- Guitar: Loren Connors Mazzacane
- Drums: Tim Mulvenna
Knock Knock is the seventh studio album by Bill Callahan under the pseudonym smog. It was released in January 1999 on Drag City in America and in Europe through Domino Records. The album is the fourth and final collaboration with producer and musician Jim O'Rourke.
Background
Knock Knock is considered the most famous album of the artist. It leads Callahan's sound further into a folky style with corners and edges. Hero was the first single from the album. It was followed by the single Cold Blooded Old Times, which strengthened by the presence in the film High Fidelity with John Cusack and Jack Black the success of Callahan. The song was also included on the soundtrack of the film.
In addition, the song "Teenage Spaceship " was on the soundtrack to the German film Crazy ( 2000) by director Hans -Christian Schmid. "Hit the Ground Running" appeared in the film " Swimming " (2000).
In addition to the two aforementioned singles, the single Look Now still published, which aufführte as B- sides of the two Japanese bonus tracks.
Guest musicians
In the track " Sweet Treat " the American guitarist Loren Connors Mazzcane plays guitar and Tim Mulvenna sat on drums. In addition, Jim O'Rourke played piano on the plate and an unspecified known " Wurley " play additional guitar.
Cover
On the cover is a stuffed wild cat to see while in the background a picture of a lightning strike dominates the cover. Bill Callahan moved the cover on two central metaphors by which life like lightning or like a cry of a wild cat is, although it is also speculated that it was a reference to Cat Power, the former girlfriend of Callahan.
Reception
Pitchfork Media gave the plate a very positive rating with 9.7 / 10 points. Also allmusic awarded 4.5 of 5 points on the board. Critic Heather Phares writes:
"It is a moving album on many levels; the songs have not only the typical smog emotional intimacy, the subjects move away from difficult, claustrophobic situations toward maturity and acceptance "
Title list
All songs by Bill Callahan.
Bonus tracks on the Japanese edition: