Isaac Brock--the singer, guitarist and leader behind the enormously popular alt-pop act Modest Mouse--would be few people's first choice for a covers album. But that is part of the genius behind this surprisingly excellent album. Sun Kil Moon leader Mark Kozelek's own recorded cover choices in the past--Kiss, Simon and Garfunkel, AC/DC, and most successfully John Denver--hew far closer to the traditional indie approach to covers: a semi-ironic, studied transformation of a tune into something it wasn't before. With Sun Kil Moon's breezy take on Brock's compositions, there is no irony, just a true love for the weird pop genius that Modest Mouse has in spades. Songs are slowed down a lot and stretched out, and frequently you don't recognize the tune until the chorus kicks in, but it totally works even if you've never heard the originals. Labors of love are rarely as enjoyable for all involved. Huzzah. --Mike McGonigal
Product Description
Mark Kozelek has released six studio albums as frontman for Red House Painters along with three solo records; however, it is with Mark's new band Sun Kil Moon that he has received some of his greatest commercial and critical success. With Sun Kil Moon, Pitchfork says, Mark is "putting to use a variety of wondrous subtle sonic touches that mark unbelievable artistic growth, unraveling unexplored harmonic territory while staying faithful to his trademark brand of languid folk-rock introspection." Two years ago, Mark saw Modest Mouse and sensed something original and explosive. The unorthodox songwriting of singer Isaac Brock intrigued him with its fractured, intuitive lyric style and cathartic, rapid-fire vocal delivery. Sun Kil Moon added songs like "Dramamine" to their set list and began work on what would become Tiny Cities, a full-length album of Modest Mouse covers released on Mark's label Caldo Verde. As with his past covers of AC/DC, KISS, Simon and Garfunkel, and John Denver, Mark's aim was to bring attention to the words and sentiments--to reinterpret freely but to respect the spirit. On Tiny Cities, Mark slows down Issac Brock's words to let them breathe without sacrificing their idiosyncratic power. The results bear the singular, hypnotic style that could only come from Mark Kozelek. Digipak.
Tiny Cities,Sun Kil Moon,Caldo Verde,Indie Pop,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,United States of America
Tiny Cities
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Tiny Cities
Sun Kil Moon Manufacturer: Caldo Verde ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
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ASIN: B000BI0WQ8 Release Date: 2005-11-01 |
Tracks:
- Exit Does Not Exist
- Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes
- Neverending Math Equation
- Space Travel Is Boring
- Dramamine
- Jesus Christ Was An Only Child
- Four Fingered Fisherman
- Grey Ice Water
- Convenient Parking
- Trucker's Atlas
- Ocean Breathes Salty
Amazon.com
Isaac Brock--the singer, guitarist and leader behind the enormously popular alt-pop act Modest Mouse--would be few people's first choice for a covers album. But that is part of the genius behind this surprisingly excellent album. Sun Kil Moon leader Mark Kozelek's own recorded cover choices in the past--Kiss, Simon and Garfunkel, AC/DC, and most successfully John Denver--hew far closer to the traditional indie approach to covers: a semi-ironic, studied transformation of a tune into something it wasn't before. With Sun Kil Moon's breezy take on Brock's compositions, there is no irony, just a true love for the weird pop genius that Modest Mouse has in spades. Songs are slowed down a lot and stretched out, and frequently you don't recognize the tune until the chorus kicks in, but it totally works even if you've never heard the originals. Labors of love are rarely as enjoyable for all involved. Huzzah. --Mike McGonigalAlbum Description
Mark Kozelek has released six studio albums as frontman for Red House Painters along with three solo records; however, it is with Mark's new band Sun Kil Moon that he has received some of his greatest commercial and critical success. With Sun Kil Moon, Pitchfork says, Mark is "putting to use a variety of wondrous subtle sonic touches that mark unbelievable artistic growth, unraveling unexplored harmonic territory while staying faithful to his trademark brand of languid folk-rock introspection." Two years ago, Mark saw Modest Mouse and sensed something original and explosive. The unorthodox songwriting of singer Isaac Brock intrigued him with its fractured, intuitive lyric style and cathartic, rapid-fire vocal delivery. Sun Kil Moon added songs like "Dramamine" to their set list and began work on what would become Tiny Cities, a full-length album of Modest Mouse covers released on Mark's label Caldo Verde. As with his past covers of AC/DC, KISS, Simon and Garfunkel, and John Denver, Mark's aim was to bring attention to the words and sentiments--to reinterpret freely but to respect the spirit. On Tiny Cities, Mark slows down Issac Brock's words to let them breathe without sacrificing their idiosyncratic power. The results bear the singular, hypnotic style that could only come from Mark Kozelek. Digipak.Customer Reviews:
this project has no business working as well as it does but..........2007-05-24
The best so far from Kozelek!.......2006-12-30
An outside view.......2006-11-07
When Amazon recommended this album, I thought I'd give it a try. I listened to a few of the samples, and then went to iTunes and listened some more. I downloaded Ocean Breathes Salty and fell in love straight away! Eventually I bought the album and have appreciated the work of Sun Kil Moon with the wonderful acoustic blends and mellow sounds.
When I found out that this album was a cover of Modest Mouse songs, I had to listen to some of the Modest Mouse songs to compare. Being very inexperienced in both artists, I felt that the Modest Mouse songs were, quite plainly, unappealing(especially Ocean Breathes Salty). However Sun Kil Moon's take on the songs were great. Mark has stripped back some songs to great moody and atmospheric numbers, with his voice adding to the instruments around. If you want an album to relax to (I play it when I'm studying) and to lose yourself in, I recommend it!!
Usually I'm a skeptic..........2006-10-10
I know nothing of Sun Kil Moon/Red House Painters/insert other name-dropping incident here], but I AM familiar with being a *huge* Modest Mouse fan.
That being said, I also have eclectic (admittedly bizarrely so) taste, and when this version of "Neverending Math Equation" was put on a mix CD for me, I didn't even realize what it was (I didn't have the track listing handy). I just thought, "Wow, this is a nice song... I wonder who is this?" Then it started sounding eerily familiar and as it dawned on me what the song actually was, I couldn't stop giggling. Bought the entire album, and now it pretty much lives on repeat.
If you're a "Modest Mouse Purist," so to speak, you may not like this album... AT ALL. And from what I've read, if you're a die-hard fan of *this* artist, you probably won't like it either. But if you're either a) addicted to cover songs, and/or b) readily open to and fascinated by the idea of reinterpreting different musical styles, then I recommend not only getting this album, but also getting the Modest Mouse originals and enjoy the Dichotomy Circus that ensues...
How About Some New Material..........2006-04-30
After discovering and falling in love with Sun Kil Moon, I started buying other Mark Kozelek and Red House Painter albums. None of them captured my attention like "Ghosts of the Great Highway." They were just too mopey, and I didn't like his vocals as much. Listening to "Tiny Cities" I can't help but notice Kozelek has reverted back to his old style (especially the vocals).
I have found that my favorite artists and albums successfully mix together melancholy and hope. The vast majority of Kozelek's previous work (excluding "Ghosts of the Great Highway") lacks the second part of the equation: hope. Unfortunately, "Tiny Cities" is no exception.
I never expect Sun Kil Moon to eclipse their debut, and that's ok with me. I would, however, like to see them try. And the only way they can do that is by writing their own songs...
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