Among the Leaves
Sun Kil Moon · 2012
73 min · 17 tracks · alternative rock
Sparse instrumentation intertwines with deeply personal storytelling, creating an intimate and introspective listening experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Know It’s Pathetic but That Was the Greatest Night of My Life — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its candid reflection on a seemingly trivial yet poignant moment, embodying Kozelek's unique perspective on nostalgia.
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Sunshine in Chicago — In this track, vivid imagery contrasts urban life with personal introspection, capturing a sense of yearning that resonates throughout the album.
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The Winery — A narrative-driven piece that blends storytelling with emotional depth, illustrating Kozelek's ability to transform ordinary experiences into profound reflections.
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Among the Leaves — The title track encapsulates the album's theme of searching for meaning in everyday moments, showcasing Kozelek's signature lyrical style and melodic sensibility.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's narrative style and minimalism create a unique listening experience, though its length affects cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album features long, narrative-driven tracks with minimal instrumentation, often relying on guitar and sparse accompaniment.
- Several songs incorporate spoken word elements, blurring the line between poetry and traditional song structure.
- The running time is extended with 17 tracks, many of which are introspective and explore personal themes, creating a reflective atmosphere.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate storytelling for reflection
- short tracks for focused listening
- bittersweet nostalgia and tenderness
- quiet moments for personal introspection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy engagement
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 2012, 'Among the Leaves' is Sun Kil Moon's sixth studio album, following the critically acclaimed 'Admiral Fell Promises.' At this point in his career, Mark Kozelek was exploring increasingly confessional songwriting styles that reflected his personal experiences and observations.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Mark Kozelek· Red House Painters· Sufjan Stevens
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 I Know It’s Pathetic but That Was the Greatest Night of My Life 1:47
- 2 Sunshine in Chicago 2:34
- 3 The Moderately Talented Yet Attractive Young Woman vs. The Exceptionally Talented Yet Not So Attractive Middle Aged Man 3:43
- 4 That Bird Has a Broken Wing 2:30
- 5 Elaine 5:15
- 6 The Winery 4:25
- 7 Young Love 6:42
- 8 Song for Richard Collopy 3:29
- 9 Among the Leaves 3:31
- 10 Red Poison 1:51
- 11 Track Number 8 5:15
- 12 Not Much Rhymes With Everything’s Awesome at All Times 3:14
- 13 King Fish 6:39
- 14 Lonely Mountain 5:29
- 15 UK Blues 6:16
- 16 UK Blues 2 4:57
- 17 Black Kite 5:34
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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