I bought their s/t (1993) today and I love it. Where do I go from here? I've only heard one other tune by him: "Carry Me Ohio" which was also awesome.



Somehow I thought that his singing was terrible but I think I was wrong. Unless he shares his singing duties with another band member maybe?


Your opinion is being solicited.

If I'm not mistaken, I think that this one (with the rollarcoaster) and the other s/t one from 93 were meant to bookend, so picking up the other is worthwhile imo. Personally I dig the second of the two more.

I think RHP are a wine that needs to age in your head for awhile before you can trully appresh. Mark Kozelek is a great songwriter. Perhaps a gem that is too often overlooked. I thought his work with Sun Kil Moon was excellent.

I hardly think you can go wrong. Songs for a Blue Guitar is excellent. Also the RHP album Ghosts of the Great Highway is awesome.

I think Songs for a Blue Guitar would be my suggestion as well. However, Ocean Beach has San Geronimo on it, I think I am right anyway. I love that song.

Pretty much anything Mark Kozelek has done is quality if you like any of it. It's hard to find but the Retrospective greatest of disc is worthwhile as well.

THe piano version of Mistress also rocks my world.

Yeah, I have the one with the rollercoaster on it. I had no idea there's another album that's meant as an accompanyment.

The piano version of Mistress is really great, I agree.



The song that (so far) really slays me is that second track. I don't have the disc in front of me but I keep hitting repeat while I listen to it in the car.


How is his solo albums?

Sun Kil Moon - Ghosts of the Great Highway


Was in my top 10 for 2003. After dissolving RHP he formed Sun Kil Moon. It pretty much sounds the same as a RHP record since Kozolek is the driving creative force behind it.

I've only heard a couple of RHP records but this one beats em both.

Great record.



You may already know this factoid but Cameron Crowe cast him in Almost Famous because he liked his music so much. He's a band member in Stillwater. During the infamous "T-shirt" scene he's the one that says "man let's just get some barbecue". He also has the line on the bus, "Russell......wake up man........high school girls!"

Down the river, not across the street.

RHP cover of John Denver's "I'm Sorry" is top-notch.

The solo album What's Next To The Moon is a favorite of mine. And definitely yes to all the good things said already about Ghosts Of The Great Highway- a terrific set of music.

Agree with all the Sun Kil Moon recommendations. You should also check out the Steve Martin movie Shop Girl cause Kozelek has a role in that one too.

Self-titled debut from '93 is one of the best records of the 90's.
'Katy's Song' will not let you down.

Ghosts...is also a great record.

Ah, you beat me to it. I've had shopgirl in my dvd player all week and love the Kozelek scenes.

Let me do some digging this weekend, SP, and I'll upload some RHP & solo Kozelek for you. My roommate has a live disc of his and MK actually breaks down and he might even cry during a cover of "White Christmas". It's both heartbreaking and hilarious.

I had a RHP - Sun Kil Moon - Bonnie "Prince" Billy night last summer and almost didn't make it out alive. That's some good shite right there.

My introduction to RHP came through the song "Japanese to English" on the Amateur soundtrack. I immediately went out and bought the "Down Colorful Hill" EP. It's fantastic and in a similiar vein to the s/t rollercoaster album. I then bought the rollercoaster album and it's my favorite. The second s/t isn't essential. I've tried to go back to it quite a bit but nothing grabs me like the EP and first s/t.

I'd also recommend Ocean Beach and Old Ramon. They aren't as strong throuout but there are some great songs on each that should be in everyones collection.

Haven't checked out Sun Kil Moon yet but will

Key tracks of RHP (not on s/t/ rollercoaster)

24
Japanese to English
Michael
Summer Dress
San Geronimo
Byrd Joel
Void
Between Days

Self-titled debut from '93 is one of the best records of the 90's.
'Katy's Song' will not let you down.

Ghosts...is also a great record.

I really like the way phrases things in his lyrics. There isn't a whole lot of rhyming and sometimes it seems like he is jamming words into the melody but it is great.

From Glen Tipton: "I buried my first victim when I was 19. I went through her window and the pockets of her jeans and found her letter that said so many things that really hurt me bad".

From Void off Old Ramon: "Her guitar leans against the couch. Sometimes I pick it up and play. Loosen and stretch it's ancient strings Until it sounds the way I feel. Brush my thumb against it soft. Give it life or give it pause"

And I am pretty sure that Have Your Forgotten is my absolute favorite song of his/theirs. So freaking great.

"grace cathedral park" is another good one.

tell me why are you like this
are you the same with anyone?
save me from my sickness and tell me
why do you treat me like?
tell me why are you like this
are you the same with anyone?
save me from my sickness and tell me
why are you like this??

Ghosts of the Great Highway is indeed fantastic. That's moved from my top 20 of 2003 to perhaps my top 20 of all time. What a beautiful, moving record. I think the Modest Mouse cover album is fabulous as well. You do not have to be a MM fan to dig this album, but if you are, he transforms their songs into something almost unrecognizable, in a very good way.

the piano version of Mistress was what turned me into an RHP fan many many moons ago. Such a great and beautiful song. At that point I think the most melodic band i listened to was Slint so getting into a band like RHP was a pretty radical shift. Anyway, I would say that you can't go wrong with really any of the RHP or Sun Kil Moon records. The solo Kozelek records are good as well but i've definitely seen them have a more polarizing effect on people... sometimes the all covers conceit can feel like a shtick and I for one can't help but feel a little cheated. Mark is such a great songwriter it seems like a waste to listen to him only play other peoples music.

I loved that Sun Kil Moon record that "Carry Me Ohio" appeared on, but have never bothered to listen to anything else by Kozalek.

Ghosts of the Great Highway very well may be my favorite album of the 21st Century. I'm also extremely partial to What's Next To The Moon.

Let's hit the wayback machine, Mr. Peabody...

walked over to second hand tunes a couple of hours ago and picked up Ghosts of the Great Highway (Sun Kil Moon) because of the recommendations here...this is an album you listen to once and know it is great....no need for "soak in" time.

There are two Sun Kil Moon albums aren't there?

One album of originals...

One album of Modest Mouse covers...

So, really, you just need "Ghosts" as a starter.

Oh, I didn't realize the Modest Mouse covers was a Sun Kil Moon album. I have actually never heard the MM covers album.

BY FAR my least favorite Kozelek-related album. Not even close.