Among the Leaves | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 29, 2012 | |||
Recorded | October 2011 – January 2012 | |||
Genre | Indie folk | |||
Length | 73:20 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Caldo Verde | |||
Producer | Mark Kozelek | |||
Sun Kil Moon chronology | ||||
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Mark Kozelek chronology | ||||
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Among the Leaves is the fifth studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon,released on May 29,2012 on Caldo Verde Records. Similar to Sun Kil Moon's previous studio album, Admiral Fell Promises (2010),the album is predominantly performed by founding member Mark Kozelek on a nylon-string guitar. [1]
In 2013,Mark Kozelek released a live album recorded shortly after Among the Leaves' release,entitled Live at Phoenix Public House Melbourne .
The album was listed 41st on Stereogum's list of top 50 albums of 2012. [2]
In a similar fashion to Sun Kil Moon's previous album, Admiral Fell Promises (2010),Among the Leaves was recorded primarily by founding member Mark Kozelek on a nylon string guitar,with the assistance of session musicians on certain tracks. Regarding his decision to continue recording alone,Kozelek noted,"Nylon string is still a new love and I'm not tired of it yet. Record sales are on their way out and I can't afford to make Dark Side of the Moon nor do I have the interest. I'm 45 and I don't have time to spend two years of my life bringing in producers and dragging the record around the planet. I'm always moving forward creatively and don't like stalling,trying to find the perfect snare drum sound." [3]
Kozelek would record the album's songs quickly after writing them,noting,"I don't make demos. I don't have the interest or the energy or the time. Demos are something you do in the early stages of your career,but when you get going,you just go in and record the song. With this record,I wanted to give my first instincts a chance without shooting them down immediately,which I sometimes do. Songs like "Song For Richard Collopy" and "Not Much Rhymes With Everything's Awesome All the Time" were very impulsive,even my engineers were looking at me like,"What in the fuck are you doing?" And that's exactly the reaction I wanted. I didn't want to put myself,or anyone else,asleep with another quintessential Mark Kozelek album." [3]
Regarding the album's lengthy track listing,which includes seventeen tracks,Mark Kozelek noted,"Recording a standard ten-song album is a concept I chose to make fun of on this record. [...] As far as the length,I wanted to challenge myself and do something out of the ordinary. When I was young,a gatefold album by Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin was something to get excited about,something you longed for. I wanted to remind people that there was a time when music required an attention span. I could have easily doubled my profit and made two records out of Among the Leaves,but the songs represented a certain period and it made sense to get it out there as one piece." [3]
The album's lyrical content frequently focuses upon life as a touring musician and the nature of songwriting,with Kozelek stating,"When you're a touring musician,you're always turning over new rocks and there's always a certain level of tension in your life. The music business,and the travel that comes with it,is stressful,challenging,redundant,exhausting,exciting,and often very depressing. After all of these years,I'm still trying to cope with aspects of it." [3] [4]
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 6.9/10 [5] |
Metacritic | 72/100 [6] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B [8] |
The Boston Phoenix | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Consequence of Sound | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Irish Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Observer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 6.8/10 [14] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | 8/10 [16] |
Upon its release,Among the Leaves received fairly positive reviews. At Metacritic,which assigns a weighted average score out of 100 to reviews and ratings from mainstream critics,the album has received a score of 72,based on 23 reviews,indicating "generally favorable reviews". [6]
In a positive review,AllMusic's James Christopher Monger stated:"The fifth outing for Mark Kozelek under the Sun Kil Moon moniker follows in the quiet footsteps of 2010's excellent Admiral Fell Promises . Looser and less polished than its predecessor,Among the Leaves finds Kozelek in a mercilessly nostalgic mood,especially on the first three tracks,which play out like a post-rock &roll Lothario trilogy." [7] The A.V. Club 's Colleen Powers praised the album's dark lyrical content,writing:" [The song,"Track Number 8",is] a crushing moment,and somehow more bravely biographical than another ballad for an absent woman. It's on these darker songs that Kozelek's fresh urgency provides a needed spark to his familiar sorrow." [8] Similarly, The Observer's Kitty Empire wrote:"[Kozelek] can still drag tears from hardened hacks with his "Song for Richard Collopy",a threnody for his late guitar restorer,whose devastation lies in its affectionate detail." [13] Laura Snapes of Pitchfork stated:"[Kozelek] is the kind of talented songwriter that can mostly pull that off;though for a record so spare and simple,Among the Leaves comes off as strangely confrontational." [14] Stereogum named Among the Leaves "Album of the Week" upon its release,writing:"It's art about,for the most part,shitty personality traits,but rendered beautifully." [17]
Consequence of Sound critic Drew Litowitz wrote:"With 17 tracks,Kozelek proves that he in fact can write a song under the five-minute mark,can be bright and bereaved in equal measure,and can even have a little fun doing this whole music thing." [10] Daniel Paton of musicOMH described the album as "a bold,honest and carefree collection that,rather than announcing Kozelek's frustrated retirement,seems set to point to new and exciting musical adventures." [18] PopMatters critic Matthew Fiander stated:"The best parts of Among the Leaves show Kozelek stepping out from behind the blurry,echoing melancholy of his sound and showing us his humor,his insight,his knack for storytelling." Nevertheless,he also added:"There's enough of that to make this record solid,but the sad fact is that Mark Kozelek is also trying to put walls up between us and him through too much of this 73-minute record,and the truth is he succeeds there too,to his own detriment." [19] Beca Grimm of Paste commented:"All the sullen lyricism dulls any chance of frisky spark. This does not make it a bad album,but it was a bit of a disappointment." [20] Slant Magazine reviewer Jesse Cataldo wrote:Among the Leaves may not be the most captivating way to spend 70 minutes,but it's a valuable effort nonetheless,a deeply felt record of one man's never-ending struggle with himself." [21]
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "I Know It's Pathetic but That Was the Greatest Night of My Life" | 1:47 |
2. | "Sunshine in Chicago" | 2:34 |
3. | "The Moderately Talented Yet Attractive Young Woman vs. The Exceptionally Talented Yet Not So Attractive Middle Aged Man" | 3:44 |
4. | "That Bird Has a Broken Wing" | 2:31 |
5. | "Elaine" | 5:15 |
6. | "The Winery" | 4:26 |
7. | "Young Love" | 6:43 |
8. | "Song for Richard Collopy" | 3:29 |
9. | "Among the Leaves" | 3:31 |
10. | "Red Poison" | 1:52 |
11. | "Track Number 8" | 5:16 |
12. | "Not Much Rhymes with Everything's Awesome at All Times" | 3:15 |
13. | "King Fish" | 6:39 |
14. | "Lonely Mountain" | 5:29 |
15. | "UK Blues" | 6:16 |
16. | "UK Blues 2" | 4:58 |
17. | "Black Kite" | 5:35 |
Charts (2012) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Folk Albums [22] | 8 |
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums [23] | 6 |
US Billboard Independent Albums [24] | 46 |
US Billboard Tastemaker Albums [25] | 25 |
Sun Kil Moon is an American folk rock act from San Francisco, California, founded in 2002. Initially a continuation of the defunct indie rock band Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon is now the primary recording moniker of vocalist and guitarist Mark Kozelek. The project is named after the Korean super flyweight boxer Sung-Kil Moon.
Ghosts of the Great Highway is the debut studio album by San Francisco quartet Sun Kil Moon, led by Red House Painters' founder Mark Kozelek, who composed all of the lyrics and music on this album. The other members are Anthony Koutsos, Geoff Stanfield, and Tim Mooney.
Mark Edward Kozelek is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer and occasional actor. He is known as the vocalist and primary recording artist of the indie folk act Sun Kil Moon and founding member of the indie rock band Red House Painters, with whom he recorded six studio albums from 1988 until 2001.
Tiny Cities is the second studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, released November 1, 2005 on Caldo Verde Records. The album features the same lineup as the band's debut, Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003). This album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005.
Caldo Verde Records is a San Francisco–based indie rock and folk record label founded by Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon frontman Mark Kozelek in 2005. The label primarily features releases by Kozelek and Sun Kil Moon, but has also released albums by Jesu, Corrina Repp, Retribution Gospel Choir, and Kath Bloom. Photographer Nyree Watts is the commissioned artist for Caldo Verde, as almost all of the releases on the label feature her photography.
April is the third studio album by American folk rock band Sun Kil Moon, released in the US on April 1, 2008 through Caldo Verde Records, and on April 18, 2008 in Japan via P-Vine Records. The album was recorded at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco and Well Recording in Seattle during a seven-month stretch from spring to late summer in 2007. The album was produced and written by Mark Kozelek. Will Oldham, Ben Gibbard and Eric Pollard lend their backing vocals throughout the album. The album also comes with a bonus disc of four alternate recordings.
The Finally LP is a compilation album by Mark Kozelek. The CD was released on December 9, 2008 via Caldo Verde Records. From the press release:
Over the years, Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon and his earlier band, Red House Painters, has gained well deserved praise for his extraordinary songwriting. At the same time, he has developed a parallel reputation for his unique covers of other people's material. Many of these tracks were recorded for tribute albums that are now unavailable. Caldo Verde Records has now collected them in a cohesive, 10-song CD titled The Finally LP.
Red House Painters were an American rock band formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1988, before relocating to San Francisco, California. They were one of the most prominent acts associated with the slowcore/sadcore subgenre. The band was formed by primary songwriter Mark Kozelek and drummer Anthony Koutsos. Together, the pair moved to San Francisco, California, where they were joined by bassist Jerry Vessel. Guitarists Gorden Mack and Phil Carney both performed with the band during separate six-year tenures.
Lost Verses Live is the second of two live albums released in spring 2009 by Mark Kozelek. Lost Verses Live was released on May 12, 2009. A limited edition vinyl pressing includes the exclusive live bonus tracks "I Am a Rock," "Last Tide," and "Floating," and was released in October 2009. The album was recorded live throughout solo tour dates in 2007 and 2008 in intimate, seated settings such as The First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, Williamsburg Music Hall in Brooklyn, The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco and the Aladdin Theatre in Portland. Mark was accompanied by guitarist Phil Carney across the set.
Admiral Fell Promises is the fourth studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, released on July 13, 2010 on Caldo Verde Records. Despite being released under the Sun Kil Moon moniker, the album features Mark Kozelek performing solo on acoustic nylon-string guitar. Along with the standard CD release, the album was also released on vinyl in October 2010, which includes liner notes, lyrics, and two bonus tracks recorded live in Saint-Malo, France.
Perils from the Sea is a collaborative studio album by American singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek and multi-instrumentalist Jimmy LaValle, released on April 30, 2013 on Caldo Verde Records.
Live at Phoenix Public House Melbourne is a live album by American singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek, released on February 19, 2013 on Caldo Verde Records. Recorded on June 11, 2012, and released on the same day as Kozelek's covers album, Like Rats (2013), the album predominantly features tracks from the then-recently released Sun Kil Moon album, Among the Leaves (2012).
Benji is the sixth studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, released on 11 February 2014 on Caldo Verde Records. Self-produced by primary recording artist Mark Kozelek, the album takes its name from the 1974 film Benji, and was recorded between March and August 2013 at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco.
Mark Kozelek Sings Christmas Carols is a Christmas album by American singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek. It was released on November 4, 2014, through Kozelek's own record label, Caldo Verde Records.
Live at Biko is a live album by American singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek. It was released on July 1, 2014, through Kozelek's own record label Caldo Verde Records.
Universal Themes is the seventh studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, released on June 2, 2015, on Caldo Verde Records.
Jesu / Sun Kil Moon is a collaborative studio album by American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon and British experimental act Jesu, released on January 21, 2016 on Caldo Verde Records and Rough Trade. The album also features guest musicians Will Oldham, members of Low, Rachel Goswell of Slowdive, and Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse. Jesu and Sun Kil Moon including drummer Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth played six shows in February and March 2016 to support the album.
Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood is the eighth studio album by the American indie folk act Sun Kil Moon, self-produced by primary recording artist Mark Kozelek. The album was released on 17 February 2017 on Caldo Verde Records. It is a double album and comprises 16 tracks in total, being Sun Kil Moon's longest album to date.
Yellow Kitchen is a collaboration album between American musician and singer Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon and Sean Yeaton, bassist of Parquet Courts, released on June 30, 2017 by Caldo Verde Records, though available for streaming shortly prior to that. Kozelek and Yeaton met at a Dutch festival in summer 2016, and recorded and self-produced Yellow Kitchen from December 2016 to May 2017 in the United States. Guest appearances on the album include Steve Shelley and Jim White on drums and Holly Throsby and Will Oldham on vocals.
I Also Want to Die in New Orleans is the tenth studio album by American band Sun Kil Moon. It was released in March 2019 under Caldo Verde Records.
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