he played the drummer
by Sean
Please note: MP3s are only kept online for a short time, and if this entry is from more than a couple of weeks ago, the music probably won't be available to download any more.


 

I've been listening a lot to the new Sun Kil Moon record, Ghosts of the Great Highway, lately. It's different from the Red House Painters albums, somehow. There's more vitality, more ringingness to the guitars. Whereas most of the RHPs' work - and for sure, Mark Kozelek's solo record (though the whole acoustic-covers-of-AC/DC lends a certain cachet) - leaned towards the (beautiful) dopiness of Pedro the Lion, Sun Kil Moon seem to have a little more Neil Young in them - maybe some R.E.M., even.

I've not been a longtime fan of the Red House Painters. I had heard most of their stuff - downloaded Old Ramon, Songs for a Blue Guitar - but it hadn't clicked. I picked up one of the untitled albums ("the one with the bridge") a couple years ago - $3.99 at Sam's - but even that just sort of drudged over me. It's all very moany, you see. As I said, it reminded me of Pedro the Lion, whom I love, but lacked the snap and crackle that Dave Bazan feeds into his tunes. (Case in point, my fave Pedro track - and rather less manic-depressive than the bulk of their work - the brilliant and near-poppy "When They Really Get To Know You They Will Run".)

Recently, though, I've been doing a lot of difficult/stressful work on the computer, and when I sling on my Grados, that Red House Painters album sounds just... perfect. Kozelek's voice calls, and along with the guitars, it's this reassuring thrum. Exactly the "warm blanket" thing that a lot of people throw at sad music (and which I feel is often a dismissive gesture).

Which brings me back to Sun Kil Moon. This is a better record than the Bridge album, more bristling, energized. Surprisingly, I've been enjoying the more rock'n'roll tracks over the acoustic ones. "Salvador Sanchez" is one of those: feedback laden, declarative, quite beautiful. It makes me wonder what would have happened to Slowdive if they had become Nirvana fans. (Are they Nirvana fans? Why don't they show it? Man... If Neil Halstead covered "Heart-Shaped Box"...)

Posted by Sean at December 1, 2003 12:38 PM
Comments

I love that sun kil moon album. It's kind of forgettable but in a really good way. Kozelek seems to mumble all of his lyrics so you can't really sing along, but musically it's terrific.

Great site by the way.

Posted by mark at December 2, 2003 3:13 PM

I know what you mean about "forgettable" - it washes over you like a really hot rain, but once it's gone, i hardly knew ye. It makes it fresh each time, though! In that sense, I'm reminded very much of this year's even more excellent full-length from The Clientele, "The Violet Hour." Much more spacey and shoegazey, but you should check it out.

Posted by Sean at December 2, 2003 9:42 PM

somehow the new album does not seem to be available in germany yet (at least not at amazon). if you are looking for older stuff by rhp, i can recommend "down colourful hill", the first mini-album (i still think it is kozelek's most consistent and intense release) and the first self-titled with the rollercoaster on the cover. "katy song" has always been my fave song by rhp from the first listen on. the way it builds up is just perfect. that song does not wash over me like a lot of kozelek's stuff, it is addictive.

Posted by alex at December 3, 2003 7:09 AM

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Sean Michaels is the founder of Said the Gramophone. He is a writer, critic and author of the theremin novel Us Conductors. Follow him on Twitter or reach him by email here. Click here to browse his posts.

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