Performer Notes

Smog: Bill Callahan (vocals, guitar, keyboards).
Additional personnel: Cynthia Dall (vocals, guitar); Jim O'Rourke (cello); Ian O'Hey (chamberlin); Ron Burns, Jason Dezember (drums).
Arguably Bill Callahan's finest work, WILD LOVE is a highly satisfying mix of the Smog mastermind's later, more expansive, keyboard-oriented arrangements and his early, grittier sound. He hadn't yet gone whole-hog into lush production (no children's choir like the one on KNOCK KNOCK), but the moody, orchestral keyboard textures that flesh out the sound mark a major progression from bare-bones lo-fi efforts like JULIUS CAESAR and KICKING A COUPLE AROUND.
As usual, Callahan is unremittingly morose, but his genius is in his ability to transcend his angst via lush, elegant melodies and a strange air of untroubled transcendence. One of the key elements of Smog's work is defined to crystal clarity here--nostalgia for the idyllic, blissfully ignorant childhood Callahan probably never had. His is a vision of darkness tempered by a loner's stark resolution, and WILD LOVE is Callahan's most compelling account of a life on the emotional skids.

Professional Reviews

Q (5/01, p.137) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Its skewed vignettes are more varied, but still hard to top for beauty, evil and jokes..."

The Wire (5/01, p.68) - "...There are jewels here....A little Smog does go a long way..."

Option (7-8/95, p.138) - "...On WILD LOVE, his first album recorded in a real studio, [Bill Callahan] drapes his lo-fi nuggets with thick layers of keyboard cheese, hearty cello scratches, and some guitar fuzz....His vulnerability is detailed enough to prevent it from becoming cliche."

Melody Maker (12/23-30/95, pp.66-67) - Ranked #16 on Melody Maker's list of 1995's `Albums Of The Year' - "The creme de la creme of American post-rock--quietly charismatic, unnervingly understated and supremely self-reflective, with its dinger still firmly on the pulse of pop..."

Album: Wild Love
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Bathysphere
2)	Wild Love
3)	Sweet Smog Children
4)	Bathroom Floor
5)	Emperor, The
6)	Limited Capacity
7)	It's Rough
8)	Sleepy Joe
9)	Candle, The
10)	Be Hit
11)	Prince Alone in the Studio
12)	Goldfish Bowl

Album: Wild Love
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Bathysphere
2)	Wild Love
3)	Sweet Smog Children
4)	Bathroom Floor
5)	Emperor, The
6)	Limited Capacity
7)	It's Rough
8)	Sleepy Joe
9)	Candle, The
10)	Be Hit
11)	Prince Alone in the Studio
12)	Goldfish Bowl