Sun Kil Moon "Admiral Fell Promises"

richard, likewise thanks for the heads-up--i just ordered the cd. kozolek's a great, hugely underrecognized singer/songwriter/guitarist--worthy of mention in the same breath as nick drake, elliott smith and neil young. i'd also tout red house painters "old ramon", which is harder edged than his recent stuff, and "mark kozolek live", which i listen to constantly.

caught kozolek live in chicago last weekend at lincoln hall a very nice, new 400 or so capacity venue. very weird show. he stuck exclusively to his nylon string spanish guitar and played brilliantly--the expected mix of new and red house painter stuff + barely recognizable covers of ac/dc, cars and modest mouse tunes. he's prodigiously talented, but one of the most unabashedly self-absorbed, anti-social performers I've seen. Despite the 90 degree heat, he insisted on turning off the air conditioning, then proceeded to either ignore or insult the very polite, reverential fans who kept trying to engage him and kept hoping he was just kidding. he has presence, and he can be funny, but in an uncomfortable, mean-spirited way. "i'm an awkward personality" he said at one point, "and i make other people feel awkward"
none of this makes for bad art, of course--by most accounts mozart, or miles davis were jackholes, too. it's strange, however, to hear music of such incredible fragility and beauty come from such a quirky tool--sorta shatters one's illusions. buy the records anyway.

for his more electric/eclectic stuff, i'd also check out rhp's "old ramon" and the first sun kil moon "ghosts". (i feel conflicted touting 'em after being so traumatized by his live show, but they're great stuff). let us know what you think after you listen.