Highlights: Sunshine In Chicago, Among The Leaves, Track Number
8
As you would probably
expect, Mark Kozelek, that sad-eyed purveyor of elegant gloom (sometimes labeled
‘slowcore’), doesn’t change all that much. Well, granted, if you compare this
new Sun Kil Moon stuff with his celebrated (I’m using the word in its least overblown
sense) Red House Painters records from the 90’s, you will get something
dangerously close to a happy, upbeat sell-out. Which, of course, Among The Leaves is not.
Among The Leaves is a superior folk album by an artist who stays true
to his long and well-honed aesthetic. It’s depressing (even when it isn’t), it’s
slow (even when it’s actually quite pacey), it’s monotonous (even when Mark
tries some diversity), and it’s extremely lovely. All through these 17 songs
you wallow in that monochrome cascade of hazy, woozy loveliness and try to
decide whether they are all brilliant or all rather mediocre. Then blurry,
uncertain outlines of Kozelek’s classics begin to peep out – slowly,
reluctantly. Like the memorable, beautifully orchestrated title track; the
dark, waltzy “Track Number 8” (which is, of course, track number 11); the fluid,
lilting folk ballad called “That Bird Has A Broken Wing”.
Fans might consider it
Mark’s White Album or something, but
I would insist on some editing. Yes, it’s essentially a pop record and there’s
not a bad song anywhere in sight, but this stuff is still much too samey not to
become slightly tiresome after 40 minutes or so. The voice is lovely though, weary but lovely.
Self-indulgent. Having said that, ‘guys in
tennis shoes’ surely won’t mind.
7/10
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