A River Ain't Too Much to Love

A River Ain't Too Much to Love
Studio album by Smog
Released	May 31, 2005
Recorded	Pedernales Studio, Spicewood, Texas, 2004
Genre	Indie Folk Alternative Country
Length	50:47
Label	Drag City Domino
Producer	Bill Callahan
Smog chronology
Supper (2003) A River Ain't Too Much to Love (2005) Woke on a Whaleheart (2007)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Drowned In Sound	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	91/100[3]
The Guardian	[4]
Pitchfork Media	7.7/10[5]
Stylus Magazine	A[6]

A River Ain't Too Much to Love is the eleventh studio album by Smog, released on May 30, 2005 on Domino Records in Europe and on Drag City in North America. The album is the last to be recorded under the Smog moniker, with Bill Callahan choosing to record under his own name for subsequent releases.

A River Ain't Too Much to Love features guest appearances by Joanna Newsom and Thor Harris of Shearwater. Music videos were produced for both "Rock Bottom Riser" and "I Feel Like the Mother of the World," the latter featuring actress Chloë Sevigny. Both videos can be found on the "Rock Bottom Riser" CD single release.

Background

Smog recording artist Bill Callahan initially wanted to release the album under his own name, stating: "I realized that [Smog is] a really ugly word. I realized I'd been going so many years without even thinking about it. I realized I didn't want to be associated with this thing that doesn't even exist. Because a name is a pretty strong thing, right?".^[7] Callahan subsequently began issuing albums under his own name following the release of A River Ain't Too Much to Love.

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Callahan except where noted.

1. "Palimpsest" – 2:52
2. "Say Valley Maker" – 5:10
3. "The Well" – 7:00
4. "Rock Bottom Riser" – 5:44
5. "I Feel Like the Mother of the World" – 3:09
6. "In the Pines" (Traditional) – 5:12
7. "Drinking at the Dam" – 4:07
8. "Running the Loping" – 6:55
9. "I'm New Here" – 3:59
10. "Let Me See the Colts" – 6:39

Credits

• Bill Callahan – vocals, various instruments, guitar
• Connie Lovatt – vocals, bass guitar
• Jim White – drums
• Thor Harris – hammer dulcimer, airdrums, zills
• Travis Weller – fiddle
• Joanna Newsom – piano

References