With his strong baritone delivery, Callahan can easily make everything and everyone around you disappear as he sort of talks you through his situations. On Shepherd, Bill does this with shorter tracks than previous albums but still gives you over an hour of material to absorb. He also takes his time with each word and on occasion will shock you a bit when he drops in some quick profanity that treats you like you are his best friend. Clearly his comfort level is up and his guard is down with these 20 tracks. This makes every song so personal and real that you can’t help but immerse yourself.
If you have been a Callahan fan over the years, Shepherd is another must for your collection. This record also has the ability to make new followers instantly because its structure is so engaging. So, as Bill sings on “What Comes After Certainty” – “Hey good lookin’, what you got cookin’?” – You can reply “a whole lot” and experience this timeless record again and again!
Christopher Anthony
For more of Christopher Anthony’s music reviews, check out The Fire Note
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