by Sun Kil Moon
Sun Kil Moon’s (Mark Kozelek) latest album Benji is one you really want to listen to – it’s not the kind of album you have on in the background. It’s beautiful, both musically and lyrically. Although someone dies in nearly every song and the album does have a heavy feel, it’s not quite as melancholic as you might expect. There’s something calming about it, life affirming in a way. The songs focus on the stories of people’s lives, and there’s something incredibly relatable in every one. It’s also a complete work that you want to listen from start to finish, with a type of cinematic or soundtrack quality to it which is probably a testament to Kozelek’s storytelling abilities.
There’s just the right amount of variety in the album to keep you listening, but without being disjointed. The stand out song for me is ‘Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes.’ It has a really interesting sound to it, almost a mixture of blues and rap. Other songs to listen out for are ‘Truck Drive’ and ‘Dogs,’ but they all fit the album just right.
If you are ready for the emotion of it, listening to this album is a truly enriching experience, well worth the time and investment (emotional and financial).
by Cat - The Breakfast Spread
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