• Artist: Sun Kil Moon
• Album: April
• Label: Caldo Verde
• Release: 2008
• Links: Official Site

Five years have passed since Mark Kozelek released Ghosts Of The Great Highway, his debut under the Sun Kil Moon moniker. During that time, Kozelek toured endlessly and also released Tiny Cities, his collection of Modest Mouse covers. The recently released April doesn’t aim to duplicate the success of Ghosts. Instead, April finds Kozelek issuing one of his moodiest and most diverse efforts to date.

I am sure that some will be intimidated by some of the lengthier tracks on April, but if you are familiar with Kozelek’s work, then you are probably already aware that he has a penchant for the guitar epic. For the most part, Kozelek does a fantastic job on April of keeping the listener’s attention. “Lost Verses,” which is sure to go down as one of the best opening tracks of the year, lasts for over nine minutes and every second is completely justified. The same can be said for the heartbreaking “Tonight In Bilbao.”

Part of April’s diversity can arguably be credited to Will Oldham. He appears on several tracks, most notably the edgy “Heron Blue.” Something tells me I’d find more than a couple Oldham records if I raided Kozelek’s house. The complex travelogue of “Moorestown” shows that Kozelek is still among the best at crafting gut-wrenching ballads. It is tracks like this that remind me why Kozelek is one of my favorite lyricists. I’m not sure if I am sold on “Like The River,” but I am fond of closing track “Blue Orchids,” which ends the album on an ominous, yet satisfying note.

Although it may not be as compact or immediate as Ghosts, the delightful April is, at times, just as rewarding. Kozelek tries a variety of styles here and most of them work wonderfully. He is never one to repeat himself, but almost always comes up with something great. It may have taken a long time for April to arrive, but the wait was certainly worth it. April is another worthy entry in the catalogue of one of independent music’s most admired songwriters.

Mark Kozelek is on tour now and will be at the Ottobar in Baltimore on June 18th.

Nights of Passed Over, the book of lyrics that spans Mark Kozelek’s entire career, is finally ready for release. Originally released only in Portugal in 2002, Nights also contains set lists and a new foreword by Kozelek. April 1st, the same day that the new Sun Kil Moon album (April) drops, is the scheduled release for the book. On Monday, March 17th, Kozelek’s Caldo Verde imprint will begin taking pre-orders.

A 12-song bonus CD will be packaged with the book that includes rare demos, alternates, and live tracks. These tracks range from 1996 to 2007 and many are seeing their first release on CD. This pressing of Nights is limited to 2,500 copies and I’m confident that they will go fast. Kozelek has been performing at SXSW this week and has a spring tour lined up that includes a June 18th stop at the Ottobar in Baltimore.

Bonus CD
*Michigan (Live at Union Chapel) 2007
*Drop (Live at Union Chapel) 2007
*Heron Blue (Drum Version) 2007
Leo and Luna (Only Version) 2006
*Carry Me Ohio (Jam Version) 2002
*Gentle Moon (Live at Fnac) 2002
**Duk Koo Kim (10’’ Version) 2001
*Wop A Din Din ( Live in Lisbon ) 2001
*Metropol 47 (Demo Version) 1999
*Cruiser (Malmo Version) 1999
Smokey (Demo Version) 1997
*River ( KCRW version) 1996

*previously unreleased
** previously unreleased on CD

TOUR
4/16/08 - Seattle, WA - Town Hall
4/17/08 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
4/26/08 - San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts
5/13/08 - Tokyo, JP - Shibuya O-nest
5/14/08 - Tokyo, JP - Kichijoji MANDA-LA2
6/8/08 - Chicago, IL - Old Town School of Folk
6/10/08 - Toronta, CA - Lee’s Place
6/11/08 - Boston, MA - Remis Auditorium/Museum of Fine Arts
6/13/08 - New York, NY - Highline Ballroom
6/15/08 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
6/18/08 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar