Editorial Reviews
Music Review:
Music Review
Strange Generation (Dig) [Enhanced]
Dream: Stefan Hussong Plays John Cage
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 83, 84 & 85
Gloria 2004/Self Control 2004 [CD-single] [Import]
Gold Diggas Head Nodders & Pholk Songs [Import]
Friendship (& Max Roach) [SACD] [Import]
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Songs and Dances of Death; A Night on the Bare Mountain
Amazon.com
Released almost concurrently with head House Painter Mark Kozelek's solo venture What's Next to the Moon (a delightful selection of deconstructed AC/DC covers), Old Ramon allows the rare opportunity to hear an artist both then and now. Recorded in '97, Old Ramon languished in the limbo of label fallout, finally to be rescued and released by Sub Pop in '01. Meanwhile, though, it seemed Kozelek had moved on, releasing a flurry of projects with nary a look back, making Old Ramon almost seem like an afterthought. But what a lovely afterthought it is. The trademark features of a Red House Painters' joint are all here: the songs are long and meandering, the guitars seesaw languidly, the drums plod, dissonant harmonies moan, and Kozelek's olive-oil voice seeps around everything. The best tracks include the light and airy "Wop a Din-Din," an homage to Kozelek's cat; the dark and beastly "Byrd Joel"; and the understated "Cruiser." Still, though, the album doesn't quite shake off its purgatorial past and remains more of an asterisk amid the band's outstanding back catalog. If you already love the Painters, Old Ramon is a godsend. But novitiates might better be off checking out the lovely cascade of Ocean Beach or Kozelek's aforementioned solo joint. --Tod Nelson
Album Description
Sixth album recorded in the fall of 1997 through the spring of 1998, was intended for release that summer. However the major labels piled delay upon delay. Old Ramon features 10 tracks of classic material for fans and newcomers of the unique Kozelek style. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.