After almost 20 years of using the alias
Smog for his music,
Bill Callahan switched to his given name for his releases after 2005's
A River Ain't Too Much to Love. The 2007 EP
Diamond Dancer and full-length
Woke on a Whaleheart both mixed the intimate, reflective, largely acoustic sound of later
Smog albums like
Supper and
A River with gospel, soul, and pop elements, and boasted arrangements by former
Royal Trux mastermind
Neil Hagerty. For 2009's
Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle,
Callahan returned to the more intimate, acoustic-based sound of latter-era
Smog albums, featuring string and brass arrangements by
Brian Beattie. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide