sometimes i feel like mr costanza during the festivus season when dealing with a mark kozelek, or maybe just his records, im not sure. some records, i absolutely love as much as one of my own children, maybe not that much but you understand, some of them bring out the airing of grievances and the feats of strength portion of said “holiday.” he’s a frustrating artist, at least to me, but one that is always worth listening to. this is nothing new, and has been going on since the first time i listen to a red house painters record back in 93, with the release of red house painter I and II, the former phenomenal, the latter not so much. then he releases ocean beach, again fantastic, and then the classic songs for a blue guitar – which is one of the best records to be released in the past 20 years, imo. old ramon, which was seriously delayed for whatever reasons, was good and great, and again frustrating.
now, for the 9/10 years he’s been using the sun kil moon moniker, which you already knew, and again he continues to frustrate the hell out of me. first release, ghosts… is again a classic and further sends signals to my brain that this guy is fully capable of putting out classic after classic record. now, thats a lot of pressure to put on an artist, and really isnt fair, but when your as talented as mr kozelek is, is it too much to ask? i know it is, again not fair.
so, he’s got a new record out entitled among the leaves, and after really not diggin the last two sun kil moon records, guess what? yeah i love this record…. im not giving any real specifics as to my frustrations, cause im lazy, and really not a journalist, just a hack blogger. either way, for a guy that has always kinda come across as cold and impersonal, this record comes across as a 1.3 megapixel webcam, or he at one point had a livejournal acct, into the world/personality of mark kozelek. its not a perfect view, but you get the sense of whats going on. i havent read too much about the record, but its pretty much him and just what sounds like a nylon string guitar. after almost 20 years, i almost feel like i know mark kozelek. he seems like an alright guy, id have a beer or two with him. best of 2012, no fucking doubt.
among the leaves is out now… buy it and other sun kil moon records via amazon
