Knock Knock (album)
Encyclopedia
Knock Knock is Smog
's seventh album, released in January 1999 on Drag City
and by Domino in Europe. The album is the fourth and final collaboration with producer and musician Jim O'Rourke
. Knock Knock elaborates Callahan's sound and provides twists and edges to the folky style of its predecessor. "Held
" was the first single, followed by "Cold Blooded Old Times
," which was also featured on the High Fidelity
soundtrack, thereby gaining some attention to Callahan's work. Other soundtrack appearances include "Teenage Spaceship" in Crazy (2000, directed by Hans-Christian Schmid
), and "Hit the Ground Running" in Swimming
(2000, directed by Robert J. Siegel). The album was accompanied by the release of the single "Look Now
," featuring the two Japanese bonus tracks.
Loren Mazzacane Connors
plays guitar on "Teenage Spaceship" and"Sweet Treat," and Thymme Jones played drums. Jim O'Rourke played piano, and "Wurley" played guitar.
Bill Callahan has referred to the cover as being a reference to "two zen
tenets - that of life being like a flash of lightning or a wildcat's roar" (Smog interview in Ink Blot Magazine), though others have speculated that it is a reference to Cat Power
, who had been in a relationship with Callahan immediately prior to the writing of the album .
Japan-only bonus tracks
Smog (band)
Bill Callahan , is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has also recorded and performed under the band name Smog. Callahan began working in the lo-fi genre of underground rock, with home-made tape-albums recorded on four track tape recorders...
's seventh album, released in January 1999 on Drag City
Drag City (record label)
Drag City is a Chicago-based independent record label. It was established with a Royal Trux release in 1990 in Chicago, Illinois by Dan Koretzky and Dan Osborn.Drag City specializes in experimental indie rock acts...
and by Domino in Europe. The album is the fourth and final collaboration with producer and musician Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
. Knock Knock elaborates Callahan's sound and provides twists and edges to the folky style of its predecessor. "Held
Held (song)
"Held" is a song by Smog, released as his first single from his 1999 album Knock Knock. The original Drag City-release featured the second single "Cold Blooded Old Times" as a b-side....
" was the first single, followed by "Cold Blooded Old Times
Cold Blooded Old Times
"Cold Blooded Old Times" is the second single by Smog from his 1999-album Knock Knock. The B-sides "Chosen One" and "I Break Horses" were recorded in a Peel Session and broadcast November 12, 1997. The Peel Session players were Bill Callahan , Jason Dezember and Colin Gagon...
," which was also featured on the High Fidelity
High Fidelity (film)
High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
soundtrack, thereby gaining some attention to Callahan's work. Other soundtrack appearances include "Teenage Spaceship" in Crazy (2000, directed by Hans-Christian Schmid
Hans-Christian Schmid
Hans-Christian Schmid is a German film director and screenwriter.-Life and work:Hans-Christian Schmid has collaborated with Michael Gutmann on several of his the film that he has directed. Gutmann wrote screenplays for 23 - Nichts ist so wie es scheint , and Crazy...
), and "Hit the Ground Running" in Swimming
Swimming (film)
-Main cast:*Lauren Ambrose – Frankie Wheeler*Jennifer Dundas – Nicola Jenrette*Joelle Carter – Josee*Jamie Harrold – Heath*James Villemaire – Brad-External links:*...
(2000, directed by Robert J. Siegel). The album was accompanied by the release of the single "Look Now
Look Now
"Look Now" is a song by Smog, released as a single accompanying the release of his 1999-album Knock Knock. Both songs - Look Now and The Only Mother - can be found as b-sides on the first Knock Knock-single Held and as bonus tracks on the Japanese version of the album....
," featuring the two Japanese bonus tracks.
Loren Mazzacane Connors
Loren Mazzacane Connors
Loren MazzaCane Connors is an American experimental musician who has recorded and performed under several different names: Guitar Roberts, Loren Mazzacane, Loren Mattei, and currently Loren Connors...
plays guitar on "Teenage Spaceship" and"Sweet Treat," and Thymme Jones played drums. Jim O'Rourke played piano, and "Wurley" played guitar.
Bill Callahan has referred to the cover as being a reference to "two zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
tenets - that of life being like a flash of lightning or a wildcat's roar" (Smog interview in Ink Blot Magazine), though others have speculated that it is a reference to Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
, who had been in a relationship with Callahan immediately prior to the writing of the album .
Track listing
- "Let's Move to the Country" – 3:05
- "HeldHeld (song)"Held" is a song by Smog, released as his first single from his 1999 album Knock Knock. The original Drag City-release featured the second single "Cold Blooded Old Times" as a b-side....
" – 4:02 - "River Guard" – 6:22
- "No Dancing" – 3:00
- "Teenage Spaceship" – 3:58
- "Cold Blooded Old TimesCold Blooded Old Times"Cold Blooded Old Times" is the second single by Smog from his 1999-album Knock Knock. The B-sides "Chosen One" and "I Break Horses" were recorded in a Peel Session and broadcast November 12, 1997. The Peel Session players were Bill Callahan , Jason Dezember and Colin Gagon...
" – 4:14 - "Sweet Treat" – 2:59
- "Hit the Ground Running" – 6:56
- "I Could Drive Forever" – 5:15
- "Left Only with Love" – 2:52
Japan-only bonus tracks
- "Look NowLook Now"Look Now" is a song by Smog, released as a single accompanying the release of his 1999-album Knock Knock. Both songs - Look Now and The Only Mother - can be found as b-sides on the first Knock Knock-single Held and as bonus tracks on the Japanese version of the album....
" – 3:24 - "The Only Mother" – 3:29