Benji by Sun Kil Moon free essay sample

Simplistic but melodic. Tragic but warm. Small-scale stories, grand-scale meta-narratives. These descriptions come to mind when listening to Mark Kozeleks sixth studio LP with Sun Kil Moon, â€Å"Benji.† Folk-rooted, acoustic-driven, and showcasing Kozeleks usual free-styling vocals that give you the impression hes spouting them spontaneously, â€Å"Benji† dares to tackle some of lifes toughest topics, all through the intimate voice that has become Kozeleks niche. To call him a songwriter is an injustice. He is a storyteller. The album has 11 tracks. Each features a tragedy, whether a death in the family, a community-based horror, or a failed relationship. Each song is based on a true story, and is told from Kozeleks perspective. Its as if he is taking a tour of his past, and the people and events that shaped it, and inviting us to join him. In the opening ballad, â€Å"Carissa,† Kozelek relates his struggles to â€Å"find some meaning† in the abrupt and seemingly senseless death of a second cousin he barely knew. We will write a custom essay sample on Benji by Sun Kil Moon or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"Carissa was 35, you dont just raise two kids and take out your trash and die,† he sings. In â€Å"Dogs,† he bemoans the predictable and unavoidable demise of an exclusively physical relationship, using examples from his past. â€Å"Pray for Newtown,† a tribute to the victims and families affected by the 2012 Connecticut shooting, describes how we are all greatly impacted by  ­catastrophes, though strangely go on living as though nothing happened. How much you enjoy â€Å"Benji† ultimately comes down to how much you appreciate Kozeleks style and understand where hes coming from. This is not an album meant to stimulate in short bursts – most of the tracks are long and feature similar minimal melodies. The saxophones come out in the closer, â€Å"Bens My Friend,† the albums most upbeat and unpredictable track, but for the most part, â€Å"Benji† has the feel of an album more concerned with its content than with its immediate  ­surroundings. Arguably Sun Kil Moons most intriguing and thought-provoking work to date, â€Å"Benji†s simplistic aesthetic approach and gritty subject matter make for one of the most complete albums this year. F