April Afternoons
I am writing again...
The seed of a new year's resolution to become more creative again has finally come to life almost three months after planting it in my mind...
What was momentarily forgotten and wilted has spawned new roots and hopefully branches out to provide another canopy of thought for someone to find comfort in, even if just for me.
I am somewhat free for a while from one of the ties that make work frustrating and devours a great amount of time during my off days. Thank God these office audits happen only once a year and I don't need to worry everyday around 3pm for that call telling me that my office will be audited the next day. So I get a little freedom back every afternoon for the rest of 2008.
Maybe I haven't written in a while because there was nothing much to write about. I have afternoons back in my life so I can have a life now..
* * * * *
One of the things that I've been anticipating since last year was the release of April, the new album from Sun Kil Moon (Mark Kozelek). In my opinion the best unknown artist/songwriter out there, I've supported all his work. The album isn't released until April 1 through his own label Caldo Verde. This past Monday I waited past midnight for the Caldo Verde site to update so I could purchase the pre-release download; I couldn't help myself. Mark now has my money twice since I already pre-ordered the CD last month.
You're wondering why I rave about this guy so much. For one thing he's been making music for over 15 years but remains indie and local. If you check out his back catalog from Red House Painters and his solo stuff you'll find that his songs are really narrative (he writes the most honest and heartfelt lyrics) and epic with songs commonly running around 8 minutes long. And if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, its kind of fun to hear some of the geographic references in his lyrics.
Go to the Sun Kil Moon MySpace page. Hopefully its still there- the entire April album is available to stream. Check out the last track Blue Orchids, a 6 minute acoustic track that changes mood and tone 3 times.
The first track, Lost Verses, might start out slow but the 50 seconds from the 3:53 point, and the 6:40 point to the end is probably one of the best pieces of music and chorus that I've ever heard and just makes you feel great for listening and living...
I see you well and clear
Deep in the moonlight dear
Your radiant August eyes
They are the suns that rise
They are the light that guides
They are in these lost verses...
I feel you oh so near
When morning doves appear
And ghosts of April rain
Echo the refrain
Soon finding a place
In these lost verses
They fill the foggy day
That hide the hills away
That steal our time
They are the picturesque nights
The casting city lights
On the bay flowing
Into the ocean glowing...
This is lazy spring afternoon music.
I have mine back now to enjoy this.
