The Best Albums Of The Decade: #12 - Ghosts Of The Great Highway

MP3: Sun Kil Moon - Carry Me Ohio

#12 - Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts Of The Great Highway
Jetset Records 2003 / Caldo Verde Records 2007 (reissue)

Joey On Ghosts Of The Great Highway:

I had just turned 21 in Portland and went to my job at 6 in the morning. Ezra gave me a copy of this for my birthday and I could only listen to it on a disc man because a few weeks back someone broke into my car and stole my stereo. I was pretty hung over from the night before so I went home early from work and bought some gloves, because my hands were endlessly cold in Portland for some reason. I felt great and the sun was rising slowly and this album played. Total magic. There are a million other stories to this record like pretty girls on trains and bummer lonely nights, but the first time is still the best.

Oh, but one time when I worked at the record store in Indianapolis, Mark Kozelek called because he was friends with the boss. He sounded like a pussy, but I was still pretty stoked. I left the note "Mark Kozelek called. - Joey" on the big boss man's desk and I'm sure it's still there, even though he fired me.

Late April

MP3: Sun Kil Moon - Lost Verses


MP3: Sun Kil Moon - Moorestown

I am not happy to admit that I slacked on "April" on it's (you guessed it) April release date, but a couple of weeks back I got myself caught up and into the new album from Sun Kil Moon. Now that I am finally here, what do I think? Well, I love it. It is an absolutely precious piece of audible art that should be spread, cherished and listened to repeatedly: a pattern I think we've all come to get used to when it comes to Mark Kozelek, easily one of the greatest songwriters of this or any time.

Right from the start, it kicks off big and epic with "Lost Verses" and it doesn't let up. In fact, after the first 2 songs alone you're at nearly twenty minutes listening time. Highlights include "Moorestown" and "Tonight the Sky", but I'm kidding myself in pretending that they're not each as incredible as the one before it.

And over the weekend, I was lucky enough to give it a good travel listen, which in my opinion is the best way to take in these albums. It did indeed hold up, and is a worthy companion on your cd shelf next to "Ghosts of the Great Highway". Also, look out for appearances from your fun favourites Will Oldham and Ben Gibbard.

Highly recommended.

"April" is out now on Caldo Verde Records.

Sun Kil Moon

MP3: Sun Kil Moon - Lily and Parrots
MP3: Sun Kil Moon - Duk Koo Kim

Sun Kil Moon's timeless "Ghosts of the Great Highway" was just reissued this past February on songwriter Mark Kozelek's own Caldo Verde Records.

I never got into the Red House Painters. I remember in high school, my friend Zach would bust them out a couple of times in his car while we were going to band practice or something but it was never anything I was smitten with. When I was out in Portland, my then roommate Ezra gave me GOTGH for my 21st birthday. My car's stereo was stolen at the time so I was listening to all cds with a discman and headphones. I left work early because I was hung over from the birthday celebration and on the way home, this album really got to me. It just complimented the world around me so perfectly that it became an instant favourite in that instant.

I have many great memories around this disc, the greatest involving a beautiful girl and a train. I've posted the one-two punch of tracks 7 and 8. "Lily and Parrots" is a flat out rocker, while "Duk Koo Kim" is slow, building and building to something epic. It's a long one, so be patient with the download/song. And of course, enjoy!