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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

Ghosts Of The Great Highway
by Sun Kil Moon


9.7

based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 17 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

MUSIC:

'Ghosts' marks the debut of the latest band from Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters). Filling out the lineup are RHP drummer Anthony Koutsos, American Music Club drummer Tim Mooney, and bassist Geoff Sanfield (Black Lab).

LABEL:	Jet Set
RELEASE DATE:	04 November 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Indie, Rock

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly

Honestly isn't too different from Painters. [Listen 2 This supplement, Nov 2003, p.39]

Splendid

Ghosts of the Great Highway easily ranks among the very best of Kozelek's dense discography, and it seems fair to suggest that it will become the measuring stick against which any future non-Red House Painters material is compared.

Trouser Press

It's like everything that has always been great about the Red House Painters made a notch or two more exciting in the studio.

All Music Guide

The bottom line here is that Kozelek's aesthetic with Sun Kil Moon may not be radically different than his RHP project, but it is moving, graceful, and consciously beautiful.

PopMatters

Ghosts of the Great Highway represents an expansive, continent-traversing narrative that evokes the literary style of John Steinbeck and the vivid imagery of everyday American life captured in the watercolors of Edward Hopper.

Magnet

A gorgeous record brimming with unhurried songs. [#61, p.108]

Pitchfork

For the first time, Kozelek has put out an album whose meticulous sequencing yields more than just a random scattershot collection of great songs, but rather a complete cohesive musical statement.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Ghosts Of The Great Highway is all soft spots but no weak spots.

Q Magazine

With Kozelek's compelling ache of a voice to the fore, his star deserves to wax anew. [Mar 2004, p.113]

ShakingThrough.net

Ghosts of the Great Highway is propelled by excellent songwriting, rich, heartfelt vocals, and solid musicianship.

Mojo

[Kozelek] has never sounded more inspired, achieving a rich balance of haunting atmosphere and twangy grit. [Feb 2004, p.101]

Neumu.net

Ghosts of the Great Highway is one of those albums that you want to have around for when life gets you down.

Uncut

A record where mature contemplation and a relative flexibility triumph over despondency and formula. [Mar 2004, p.94]

Delusions of Adequacy

The net result is a crisp, sometimes crunchy, and often lush collection of songs that show Kozelek at his best since... Songs for a Blue Guitar.

Almost Cool

There are a few peaks, not much in the way of valleys, and although it's not the best work by Kozelek, it's still pretty damn good.

Alternative Press

A refreshing slice of acoustic rock from an indie icon. [Nov 2003, p.114]

Rolling Stone

Kozelek remains as inscrutable as ever, but he avoids the archness that sometimes infected his earlier work. [27 Nov 2003, p.92]

Stylus Magazine

With a snoozilicious country-rock sound that makes even the Eagles seem crisp by comparison, Kozelek appears to have temporarily mothballed his greater sonic ambitions and opted instead for a niche as a latter-day Mazzy Star for boys.

The average user rating for this album is 9.7 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Paul Rocks gave it a10:
The is possibly Kozeleks best and most consistant body of work. It is an album of stunning melodies merging acoustic and electric to beautiful effect as he recalls the "Ghosts" of the titles. It culminates in the mighty Duk Koo Kim which weighs in at 14 minutes ( and is apparently the number of rounds the boxer of the title fought in his tragic fight that claimed his life)

Michael M gave it a10:
This is my life support record, one of the best albums I'll ever hear, I'm sure.

Darryl gave it a10:
His voice is so soaring that the harmonies tend to bury the clever lyrics and most capable accompanying bandmates. Nothing's missing here. Great songs, great singer, great band. Gentle Moon burys the entire state catalogue of Tennessee.

Juggy T gave it a10:
Personal favorite of 2000's so far. Can't wait for his next.

Kim H gave it a10:
Two years later, and I still cannot get enough of this album. Every time I play "Carry Me, Ohio" for someone who has never heard of them, I gain an instant fan. The melodies are beautiful, the lyrics haunting, and Kozelek's voice is ethereal.

Ian C gave it a10:
This is a great album, from the guitar playing to the lyrics. The album as a whole is like a soft blanket pulled over you, it feels good.

Rob C gave it an 8:
Excellent work from Kozalek and co. Many superlatives have been used to sum up his RHP work and his newer stuff. Suffice to stay haunting and emotional always rise to the top. For anyone who favours the long term rewards that come from listening to albums of this quality, you will not be disappointed. I was a bit surprised by the Spanish influences though.

Ghosts Of The Great Highway by Sun Kil Moon

Ghosts Of The Great Highway
by Sun Kil Moon