#12. April - Sun Kil Moon (2008)
Fact about the album
You can buy it on marble vinyl, whatever the heck that is.
Why it makes the list
If nothing else, this album represents great value for money (if you’re still into that whole paying for music thing). There is roughly 75 minutes of original material packed into one disc, and what fine material it is too. The opener is classic Kozelek, with its alternatively tuned guitars, haunting vocals, and absurd lengthiness. In fact those are three charges that could be levelled against almost all of the songs on April. But in between the epics are some beautiful(ly) short numbers like my personal favourite, ‘Moorestown’, and Americana tinged ditties such as ‘Unlit Hallway’ and ‘Like the River’.
And then there’s ‘Tonight the Sky’, which is nothing short of an ode to Neil Young and Crazy Horse. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then the opening riff of ‘Tonight the Sky’ is one of the most flattering things never said. However, it certainly doesn’t flatter to deceive. (And with that, ‘flatter’ and its cognates have lost all meaning). Repetitive solo aside, it is a brilliant anthem, which I also had the pleasure of hearing live.
2008 was a good year for the album, and April deserves to be right up there with the best of what that year offered to us.
Memories it evokes
The gig I alluded to. I’m going to go ahead and say it was the best I’ve been at.
Favourite tracks
Moorestown, Tonight the Sky, Lost Verses
#11. Gold - Ryan Adams (2001)
Fact about the album
Gold peaked at no. 45 in New Zealand’s album charts. If that’s not prestige then I don’t know what is.
Why it makes the list
It was never going to be easy to follow Heartbreaker. Sequels are rarely if ever better than the original. Of course it’s a matter of opinion whether Adams has achieved the almost impossible, but whatever your opinion, Gold is anything but disappointing. In fact it’s astounding.
I could wax lyrical about the many excellent tracks, but I’ll simply say this: When it comes to artists plying their trade today that posterity will deem worth listening to in a few decades time, Ryan Adams will surely be near the top of that list. Forget about Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, or whoever else is the flavour of the month. Ryan Adams has made music that will last well beyond his prime.
Pity he’s such a plonker.
Memories it evokes
Lengthy debates with a college friend over which is better - Heartbreaker or Gold.
Favourite tracks
La Cienaga Just Smiled, Firecracker, When the Stars Go Blue
Fact about the album
You can buy it on marble vinyl, whatever the heck that is.
Why it makes the list
If nothing else, this album represents great value for money (if you’re still into that whole paying for music thing). There is roughly 75 minutes of original material packed into one disc, and what fine material it is too. The opener is classic Kozelek, with its alternatively tuned guitars, haunting vocals, and absurd lengthiness. In fact those are three charges that could be levelled against almost all of the songs on April. But in between the epics are some beautiful(ly) short numbers like my personal favourite, ‘Moorestown’, and Americana tinged ditties such as ‘Unlit Hallway’ and ‘Like the River’.
And then there’s ‘Tonight the Sky’, which is nothing short of an ode to Neil Young and Crazy Horse. If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then the opening riff of ‘Tonight the Sky’ is one of the most flattering things never said. However, it certainly doesn’t flatter to deceive. (And with that, ‘flatter’ and its cognates have lost all meaning). Repetitive solo aside, it is a brilliant anthem, which I also had the pleasure of hearing live.
2008 was a good year for the album, and April deserves to be right up there with the best of what that year offered to us.
Memories it evokes
The gig I alluded to. I’m going to go ahead and say it was the best I’ve been at.
Favourite tracks
Moorestown, Tonight the Sky, Lost Verses
#11. Gold - Ryan Adams (2001)
Fact about the album
Gold peaked at no. 45 in New Zealand’s album charts. If that’s not prestige then I don’t know what is.
Why it makes the list
It was never going to be easy to follow Heartbreaker. Sequels are rarely if ever better than the original. Of course it’s a matter of opinion whether Adams has achieved the almost impossible, but whatever your opinion, Gold is anything but disappointing. In fact it’s astounding.
I could wax lyrical about the many excellent tracks, but I’ll simply say this: When it comes to artists plying their trade today that posterity will deem worth listening to in a few decades time, Ryan Adams will surely be near the top of that list. Forget about Kings of Leon, Foo Fighters, or whoever else is the flavour of the month. Ryan Adams has made music that will last well beyond his prime.
Pity he’s such a plonker.
Memories it evokes
Lengthy debates with a college friend over which is better - Heartbreaker or Gold.
Favourite tracks
La Cienaga Just Smiled, Firecracker, When the Stars Go Blue
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