Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway

Sun Kil Moon - Carry me, Ohio

Runs for: 6:21

Really mellow track. Nice vocals and instrumentals and good for just listening to when you need to relax.

Sun Kil Moon’s ‘Ghosts of the Great Highway’ was sold to me as one of the greater contemporaries in terms of singer/songwriter based folk music, which I’ve been on quite a kick for after developing an unhealthy addiction to The Microphones ‘The Glow, pt 2.”. ‘Ghosts’ comes off as a lighter album, and while it isn’t as adventurous as other bands in its realm, it knows it’s strengths and puts them to good use.

The vocal work is very relaxing. Singer Mark Kozelek holds a great vocal range with a drawn-out and nearly otherworldly voice. He performs a style that isn’t so much a howl or a wail, but rather like a long, soft and bittersweet sigh. Thematically, he works with sorrowful and poetic lyrics, choosing to base songs on the lives of deceased boxers to a strong effect. The guitar work tends to involve a repetitive riff running continuously as the rest of the song forms around it through use of chimes, bells, other guitars and the variation in vocal tone.

Compared to other singer/songwriters, he has the instrumental mixture that lacks The Microphones/Mount Eerie’s experimental nature but makes up for it by complementing the tracks in a more traditional fashion.  I’d say that the airiness and pacing of his voice isn’t too far off from José González’s style either.

However, all in all I wouldn’t say that there’s anything genre defying or wildly out there on this album, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s got this familiar calmness to it that washes over you like bath water. The instrumentals have a subtle complexity, the vocals are relaxing with a decent range, and the music is - without a doubt - very well constructed. All in all, ‘Ghosts of the Great Highway’ knows it’s limits and works within them to create a solid album that’s well worth a listen.

Reccomended for: Lighter folk heads. Anyone who’s into Damien Rice or José González really.

Sun Kil Moon - Glenn Tipton

Runs for: 4:16

Another pretty decent track. I think the stand-out here is in the lyrics.