For all intents and purposes, (Smog) is just Bill Callahan, sometimes with various cohorts along for the ride. Callahan began his music career as a highly experimental artist whose lack of knowledge of professional recording paired with a control-freak temperament resulted in the pioneering of the lo-fi genre of underground rock. He released homemade four track recordings on cassette before signing with record label Drag City. As time went on, he slowly opened himself up to the talent in the Drag City circle and recorded two albums with prominent producer Jim O'Rourke as well as collaborations with Neil Hagerty. Many consider him an under recognized yet very important leader of the home-recording revolution of 90s rock n roll.

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Bill Callahan's songs are slices of Americana at it are finest. His latest release, A River Ain't Too Much to Love, showcases acoustic guitars used for music not just tied to the folk traditions and drums that sound vaguely like galloping horses. His songs are most often melancholy, poignant and self-obsessed and the subject matter fluctuates from his childhood to failed relationships and often illustrates themes of spiritual searching and the complexity of emotions. Sonically, his music, especially the early albums, is based on simple repetitive structures that are often odd sounding and fractured -both the self-indulgence and limitless time characteristic of early home recording.