Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood
by Sun Kil Moon
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 43
  3. Negative: 2 out of 43
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Inresurrection
    Mar 1, 2017
    1
    Mark Kozelek is an insufferable human being with insufferable music and even more insufferable lyrics. He made a huge mistake when he went solo. Red House Painters are cool. This album, and Sun Kil Moon, are not.
  2. Paulo_Jorge
    Mar 1, 2017
    9
    Apparently critics hate when an artist takes his time to hammer truth about politics and media, breaking the fourth wall at times. At the time that I'm writting this it's at 64/100, I mean, it's really bizarre how critics can f* up sometimes.

    Common as Light and Love is Kozelek, an intimate album in which he gave us 2 hours to know a little more about his story, his beliefs and personal    Apparently critics hate when an artist takes his time to hammer truth about politics and media, breaking the fourth wall at times. At the time that I'm writting this it's at 64/100, I mean, it's really bizarre how critics can f* up sometimes.

    Common as Light and Love is Kozelek, an intimate album in which he gave us 2 hours to know a little more about his story, his beliefs and personal opinions, may that be done by his usual folk style as it is on "God Bless Ohio" and "I Love Portugal", or by his experimentations with various genres, even resembling rap structures as in "Philadelphia Cop" or breaking the fourth wall as in "Seventies TV Show Theme Song".

    Funny thing, critics usually complains about artists that are lacking at creativity and experimentation, well, Sun Kil Moon is far from being that with this new LP, I really don't get it critics.    … Expand
  3. JustinHowell
    Mar 22, 2017
    10
    This, right here, is the best record of the year so far, full stop. I was not expecting to love this thing so much, but I did.

    The instrumentation is super solid on this thing, but that's not what makes it so great. It's frontman Mark Kozelek that makes this album so incredibly amazing. The album is literally just an endless stream of thoughts. It's well over two hours long, and it    This, right here, is the best record of the year so far, full stop. I was not expecting to love this thing so much, but I did.

    The instrumentation is super solid on this thing, but that's not what makes it so great. It's frontman Mark Kozelek that makes this album so incredibly amazing.

    The album is literally just an endless stream of thoughts. It's well over two hours long, and it is in no way conventionally written. It's just - again- an endless stream of Marks thoughts.

    The album is written from his 49th birthday on January 24th 2016 through Christmas 2016, and it seems that throughout this time period, Mark would occasionally just pick up a journal, and start writing down his thoughts with no rhyme or real cadence, and it's just absolutely fascinating to delve into this man's mind, especially considering how absolutely crazy of a year 2016 was.

    For instance, on one of the more chilling moments on the record, we get to listen to his initial reaction to David Bowie dying, and hear as he discusses that one of his friends said to expect a lot more celebrities to die before the end of the year, right before he goes off on a tangent about how much he admires Mohammad Ali. Then, later on the record, there's a song in which he reacts to Mohammad Ali's death.

    Not only do we get to delve into Mark's thought process throughout various experiences, we get to hear his general sentiments regarding life and events throughout last year, from the the whole transgender people in bathrooms debacle, to the terrorist attacks is France, and it's absolutely amazing.

    This guy is funny and witty and it's incredibly fun to listen to him. The album is again, well over two hours long, but you're not going to spend a single solitary second of it anywhere near close to getting bored. This is an *over two hour* album, but at the end of it, I didn't want it to be over!

    Mark Kozelek proves here that expository, introspective records don't need to be tedious and super pretentious. He shows that they can be fun and totally engrossing.

    I didn't find aspect of anything on this entire record from the instrumentals to, of course, Mark's performance objectionable, and therefore, I see no reason to take any points off of this thing.

    Meaning that, while I've done music reviews sporadically for over 2 years, and have never ever given out a perfect score, even though I've reviewed some genuinely great albums, I'm ready to give this my *first ever* perfect 10!

    -Justin Howell, Music Lover    … Expand
  4. PWalnuts
    Feb 24, 2017
    8
    Not a good entry point into Sun Kil Moon's catalog, but those familiar with SKM's last 2 albums will find a lot of enjoy here. Very stream of consciousness.

    Kozelek opens his heart, thoughts, and airs out his opinions on everything from love and relationships, friends, to having compassion for strangers, travel, and of course, death. Lots of people die on this album just as on the    Not a good entry point into Sun Kil Moon's catalog, but those familiar with SKM's last 2 albums will find a lot of enjoy here. Very stream of consciousness.

    Kozelek opens his heart, thoughts, and airs out his opinions on everything from love and relationships, friends, to having compassion for strangers, travel, and of course, death. Lots of people die on this album just as on the 2014 opus Benji. His friend Butch, Bowie, Prince, the people in the Orlando nightclub tragedy, serial killer victims, a Philadelphia cop, among others are those that have died. But where Benji was ultimately a very sad album, songs marred by tragedy, "Common as Light..." is more even, with a "that's life" air about it.
    Kozelek talks about his love for food, his love for boxing, friendships, cute cats, a conversation with a Syrian convenience store owner, his colorblind maintenance man, a woman fishing on a pier, his friend Butch coming over for thanksgiving, a Sarah Lawrence college audience, a hotel parking attendant, carefully watching a woman who he was afraid might hurt herself by jumping off a building....which all adds this tremendous real life color and relateability to someone who has been called a curmudgeon, an **** and a sexist recently. It doesn't seem like Kozelek went out of his way to try and reinvent himself as someone who is open and tolerant, because these songs, some of which address transgender and sex issues, are coming from a place that is genuine and heartfelt.
    He takes us down these strange but interesting tunnels. His obsession with serial killers leads him to investigating an LA hotel where a woman was allegedly murdered. He discusses the strange case of a man who killed a Eric Clapton impersonator. He discusses his trip to Vegas to watch the Pacquaio/Bradley fight, and how he lost money on a bet.
    It's also worth mentioning that Kozelek is hilarious when he wants to be. The songs, at an average of over 8 minutes each, take twists and turn in plot and instrumentation. Songs come to a halt for spoken word poetry, sometimes pick back up, and lead into strange choruses.
    Of course, the grumpiness is still there, but it's more evened out by the humor. Kozelek takes shots at millennials, ditzy girls at SXSW, people who watch reality tv, and blames fickle people for the rise in popularity of Donald Trump, predicting his presidential win (songs written and recorded before election).
    The music itself is (relatively) sparse (as always), but the instrumentation is varied I would say with pretty successful results. The bass is mixed too loud in some songs but overall it's good that it's varied on an album clocking in at over 2 hours.
    I didn't like his last album, Universal Themes - most of the songs were a brutal slog, but Kozelek seems to have built on Universal Themes and refined his methodology to give us a deep, long album full of interesting, funny, and sad moments. All week I have found myself with a desire to re-listen and pick up on things I missed.

    Most people I think are going to hate it. They won't "get it" and call it self-indulgent, and hypocritical, and just too long. Like how could a guy that lambasts the Twitter generation possibly expect us to take him seriously when hes singing about the gazpacho he ate or the time he went to the taco truck? While I would argue he's not exactly a hypocrite, its more important just that Kozelek is an imperfect and complex person, and good story teller. And it's a really good comeback story for an aging fat man that everyone loves to hate on.
    I might even argue that it's unfair for Kozelek to be ignored for making important statements about social issues, like gun control, transgender rights, and Donald Trump. Solange was put on a pedestal for approaching such issues in her music last year, and it's tragic that Kozelek will fly under the radar for taking on the same social issues.

    Not as good as Benji, but still an enjoyable, thoughtful listening experience. Decent to strong 8 out of 10.    … Expand
  5. ClumsyCreator
    Feb 24, 2017
    9
    I knew the second after listening to this album it'd be incredibly divisive. Kozelek's long winded stories from Universal Themes and Benji make a comeback. However they seem to be a lot less personal and more focused on the current events in the world and his thoughts on them. On top of that they're a hell of a lot longer too.

    The music you'd typically expect on a Sun Kil Moon record    I knew the second after listening to this album it'd be incredibly divisive. Kozelek's long winded stories from Universal Themes and Benji make a comeback. However they seem to be a lot less personal and more focused on the current events in the world and his thoughts on them. On top of that they're a hell of a lot longer too.

    The music you'd typically expect on a Sun Kil Moon record (soft guitars, pleasant sad melodies) have almost been completely replaced with these long winded repetitive beats that could almost be called Hip-Hop at times. With songs going on for an average of 7 minutes I expected to be bored of them but they make sudden or subtle changes to mix it up. Really the music almost takes a backseat to the lyrics themselves. This really feels like a rant album about the current state of the world. I think my only complaint is that clocking in at over 2 hours long, things can blend together a little and rob certain later songs of some of their impact.    … Expand
  6. sambennie_
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    This new Sun Kil Moon record being over 2 hours long proves that Kozelek no longer gives a **** what people think about him. He goes crazy on this record, offering his most succinct observations since Benji. What Kozelek fans love is what Kozelek has been doing since Red House Painters, and those so called fans who just now are disliking him because of his comments at concerts, in songs,This new Sun Kil Moon record being over 2 hours long proves that Kozelek no longer gives a **** what people think about him. He goes crazy on this record, offering his most succinct observations since Benji. What Kozelek fans love is what Kozelek has been doing since Red House Painters, and those so called fans who just now are disliking him because of his comments at concerts, in songs, etc. misunderstand Kozelek and were never really fans in the first place. This album is an album for Kozelek and his fans, as evidenced on the song Philadelphia Cop, the lines "I ain't no one's ****ing puppet" and "Gimme a one out of five, a big fat ten, give me a two, either way it's all after me and to all of you". Common as Light is filled with serial killers, boxers, cats, friends, family, death, like any other Sun Kil Moon album, but his lyrics and his beautiful voice (as both always have been) make this record a standout in Kozeleks discog.… Expand
  7. KenErdedy
    Oct 31, 2017
    10
    I find it hard to ignore this album most days of the week. Ever since it's release I have been captivated by the amount of words Kozelek can say and continue to keep me on the edge of my seat. Benji (2014), referred to by some as the magnum opus of the SKM discography, has been said to be the Great American NovelI find it hard to ignore this album most days of the week. Ever since it's release I have been captivated by the amount of words Kozelek can say and continue to keep me on the edge of my seat. Benji (2014), referred to by some as the magnum opus of the SKM discography, has been said to be the Great American Novel (https://www.theawl.com/2014/02/is-sun-kil-moons-benji-the-great-american-novel/) and if this is true, the 2017 work of Common As Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood is the next step in that story-telling process that not only tells a great story, but also encapsulates the timeliness of these ideas Kozelek is sharing. It wouldn't take a mad scientist to see back in '15 where America was likely headed in the coming years, and it is clear that this misfortune was on Kozelek's mind. The mixed reviews I have seen over the last few months have not surprised me with the emphasis on Pitchfork's 6.5 that was given following a 9.2 for the much shorter and sweeter Benji album. People want to be taken to a place that isn't necessarily spoon feeding, but the moment you get too specific and ugly about something, they want to let you know you've lost them. The listener/audience isn't necessarily the main focus in this one. There are times when Kozelek is really reaching out and you can hear it on a few tracks that sound like SKM of old, but on others he is experimenting with sound and the whole song making process (quite literally on track #14, 'Vague Rock Song') while quickly looking inward and staying on the meta focus of the body of work as a whole. The subtle but recurring references of terrorism, Muhammed Ali wisdom, and media influence keep things pretty interesting while Mark goes on a 2 hour rant about just what exactly is going on and how its affecting him and his perspective on living. I can clearly see this album wasn't made with intention of garnering any kind of specific audience and swapped with pure joy for what one can do with some time, understanding, and a keen sense of humor. Great job Mark Kozelek!… Expand
  8. zacharystutland
    Apr 13, 2021
    10
    Mark’s most experimental album in his large catalogue, and in my opinion, the best
  9. OZMNDS
    Apr 1, 2021
    9
    If you take this album at face value and take out all of the irrelevant narratives created around Kozelek's name (separate the art from the artist, please), this is simply a terrific spoken-word/hip-hop/folk/rock release. However, if you're not privy to patience then I suggest you veer away from this release, for it is a longggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg album.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Mar 21, 2017
    40
    Kozelek spends a lot of time on Common as Light giving us his broadly “common sense” liberal pluralist live-and-let-live shtick, punctuated by grumpy bashings of “hipster” culture and its parades of regenerated tenement buildings and juice bars, music journalists, and Father John Misty, but it’s only on 10-minute opener and standout track “God Bless Ohio” that he really bares his soul.
    Read full review
  2. No Ripcord
    Mar 20, 2017
    60
    The themes explored throughout the record’s massive 130-minute runtime are remarkably current--for example the Orlando shootings and the Paris attacks--and it’s these moments where the album commands absolute attention. Not even Kozelek can command it entirely for 130 minutes, though.
    Read full review
  3. Drowned In Sound
    Mar 7, 2017
    70
    There is never a singular anecdote or scheme with Kozelek, as he bounces around from topic to topic, providing a kaleidoscope of information in one song.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »