Benji is the forthcoming sixth studio album by American Folk rock act Sun Kil Moon, due for release on February 11, 2014 on Caldo Verde Records.
The album features contributions from Sonic Youth's Steve Shelley, Jen Wood, Will Oldham, and Owen Ashworth.[1]
Background
Following the release of Sun Kil Moon's fifth studio album, Among the Leaves (2012), primary recording artist Mark Kozelek recorded and released three studio albums the following year; a covers album, entitled Like Rats, and two collaborative albums of original material, Perils from the Sea and Mark Kozelek & Desertshore, recorded with Jimmy LaValle and Desertshore, respectively.
Writing and composition
The album's closing track, "Ben's My Friend", is partly written about primary recording artist Mark Kozelek's friendship with Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service vocalist and guitarist Benjamin Gibbard.[2] Gibbard previously made a guest vocal appearance on the track, "Lost Verses", on Sun Kil Moon's third studio album, April (2008).
Reception
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Rating |
| Pitchfork Media |
(9.2/10)[3] |
| The Line of Best Fit |
(9/10)[4] |
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On January 10, 2014, Pitchfork Media's Ian Cohen issued the album's closing track, "Ben's My Friend", with the website's "Best New Track" award, writing, "'Ben's My Friend' [is] one of the funniest, warmest, and most revealing songs ever written about male friendship, especially the complications that arise in relationships where one guy's more successful." He also referred to Benji as a whole as the project's "best record to date".[2]
Track listing
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| 1. |
"Carissa" |
6:56 |
| 2. |
"I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love" |
3:59 |
| 3. |
"Truck Driver" |
3:56 |
| 4. |
"Dogs" |
5:37 |
| 5. |
"Pray for Newtown" |
4:08 |
| 6. |
"Jim Wise" |
3:34 |
| 7. |
"I Love My Dad" |
6:16 |
| 8. |
"I Watched the Film The Song Remains the Same" |
10:31 |
| 9. |
"Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes" |
5:35 |
| 10. |
"Micheline" |
6:07 |
| 11. |
"Ben's My Friend" |
5:17 |
References
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