'Benji' is Mark Kozelek's 6th
self-produced album under his Sun Kil Moon project. The name is taken from memories of going to
the cinema with family, fittingly summing up the nature of this album. Kozelek's vivid story telling gathers
details of life events forging a confessional and raw collection of
songs hitting right in the folk pleasure centres. The album is constructed of characters and
stories drawing on death, physical ailments and love voiced in a frank and
direct diarist manner. Vocals aching with disquiet alongside light
eddying strings set an ebonied tone, just as opener 'Clarissa' ends you're gripped. 'Benji' varies in mood just as much as subject matter; songs about Kozelek’s upbringing shifts to lyrics based on murderers, sandwiched in with his reaction to seeing 'The Song Remains The Same' to memories of his first girlfriend. Through Kozelek's candid approach to using mostly himself as subject matter, 'Benji' manages to reach one on a more personal level than most records do. This release has just had a second pressing issued, and if it weren't for someone telling me about it this may have totally passed me by. Maybe if I hadn't cottoned on earlier perhaps some others hadn't either - hence this quick post. You can search 'Benji' right now and find countless other glowing reviews of this album so I'm not going to waste anymore of your time, or try and say it any better than other worthy blogs and publications - take that time and spend it listening to this album.
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