Benji
by Sun Kil Moon
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
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  1. Q Magazine
    Mar 18, 2014
    60
    Not his most graceful, but certainly his most strikingly personal, Benji is another colourful stop on Kozelek's glorious journey into the light. [Apr 2014, p.119]
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  2. The Quietus
    Feb 26, 2014
    60
    Benji would have worked better as a series of EPs, playing to Kozelek's strength as a songwriter of certain stylistic preferences.
  3. AllMusic
    Feb 10, 2014
    60
    His hardcore following will no doubt celebrate it abundantly. Given its willful indulgence, however, others may find it a tipping point in the other direction.
  5. Under The Radar
    Feb 3, 2014
    55
    Overall, your enjoyment of this album will depend on your patience and appreciation for Kozelek's idiosyncrasies. Sometimes he pulls it off wonderfully, and other times listeners might wish he'd left a little more to the imagination.

Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best Album of 2014
51
#51 Most Discussed Album of 2014
76
#76 Most Shared Album of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 135 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 122 out of 135
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 135
  3. Negative: 4 out of 135
  1. jyo_tirmaya
    Feb 11, 2014
    10
    This album puts a stamp on Kozelek's career. I didn't expect that his role as the bass player in the fictional band Stillwater in the 1999This album puts a stamp on Kozelek's career. I didn't expect that his role as the bass player in the fictional band Stillwater in the 1999 movie "Almost Famous" (which I copied onto cassette tape back then) would not be the highlight of his career. Mark Kozelek sings (and plays acoustic guitar) about many of the things we all go through in life. I was especially intent on listening to the song "I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love" because my loving mother died only 6 weeks ago. The rest of the album, as well as that song, practically outlines (intentionally or not) through the soul's sojourn in the material world. Everyone - except maybe a saint - can relate to these true stories in song. They are beautiful songs even when the lyrics turn ugly, overtly sensual or speak of death. Birth, death, disease and old age are the things all of us souls go through in the material world (as one hears about in most George Harrison songs). While listening to these songs, I reflect on what my own life has been like, find parallels, and ironically, they make me think about how to make my life better. Finally, I love the melodies and denseness of this album and how the lone saxophone starts in towards the end of the album as if bringing all of his experiences and emotions into one final symphony. Spellbinding!… Full Review »
  2. palkyrocks
    Feb 28, 2014
    0
    I now have a base line for the worst album I have ever heard ... and it's name is Benji by Sun Kil Moon.

    The guitar in each song is the    I now have a base line for the worst album I have ever heard ... and it's name is Benji by Sun Kil Moon.

    The guitar in each song is the same 3 boring, rambling finger picked chords for upwards of 8 minutes. The vocal is the least melodic single note monotone cringeworthy vocal line. The lyrics are the most self indulgent exploration into death I've ever heard. There is one song about how he will be sad if his mum dies and no one is allowed to talk **** about her, another song about how he loves his dad, another song about a couple of mass murders but he somehow makes it about him, a song about his pets
    Dying , an 8 minute song about his 2nd cousin dying - how sad he was even though he admits in the song he has only seen her once in 30 years ... And he didn't talk to her then ... He makes her death about him.    … Full Review »
  3. kyle_aaronson
    Mar 23, 2014
    8
    This was my first Sun Kil Moon album, but wow. Rarely can an album evoke this much emotion and demand this much attention. You really have toThis was my first Sun Kil Moon album, but wow. Rarely can an album evoke this much emotion and demand this much attention. You really have to listen to the lyrics a few times and listen to the album all the way through. When I first heard it, I thought everything was so trivial that he was saying, and I only appreciated the music behind it. And some of it still is kind of trivial. But he's too real, honest and raw to not appreciate what he's saying as well.… Full Review »
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