Sun Kil Moon

2025-10-15T05:47:37Z

139.140.213.249: Fixed grammar and added links

{{Short description|American folk rock act}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{for|the boxer|Moon Sung-kil}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sun Kil Moon
| image = Sun Kil Moon Paris 2014.jpg
| caption = Sun Kil Moon performing at Le Divan du Monde, (Mark Kozelek, Eric Pollard, Vasco Espinheira) Paris 2014
| image_size = 250px
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[San Francisco]], [[California]], U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|[[Folk rock]]|[[indie folk]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lathan|first1=Ryan|title=Sun Kil Moon: ''Benji''|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/178446-sun-kil-moon-benji/|website=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=16 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701051315/http://www.popmatters.com/review/178446-sun-kil-moon-benji/|archive-date=1 July 2017}}</ref>|[[slowcore]]|[[alternative rock]]|[[spoken word]]}}
| years_active = 2002–present
| label = [[Caldo Verde Records|Caldo Verde]]
| website = {{url|www.sunkilmoon.com}}
| current_members = [[Mark Kozelek]]
| past_members = {{ubl|[[Tim Mooney]]|Anthony Koutsos|Geoff Stanfield|[[Vasco Espinheira]]|Jerry Vessel|Phil Carney<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caldoverderecords.com/interview.htm |title=An Interview with Mark Kozelek of Sun Kil Moon |first= Rob |last= O'Connor |publisher=Caldo Verde Records |date= April 2010 |access-date=April 1, 2012 }}</ref>|Matt Boyer|Eric Pollard|Isabel Castelvi}}
}}
'''Sun Kil Moon''' is an American [[folk rock]] act from [[San Francisco|San Francisco, California]], founded in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Francisco |first=Miriam |date=May 15, 2019 |title=That was the saddest song of my life: Notes on Sun Kil Moon |url=http://www.michigandaily.com/arts/music/was-saddest-song-my-life-notes-sun-kil-moon/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530131252/https://www.michigandaily.com/arts/music/was-saddest-song-my-life-notes-sun-kil-moon/ |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |access-date=May 30, 2024 |website=The Michigan Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> Initially a continuation of the defunct [[indie rock]] band [[Red House Painters]], Sun Kil Moon is now the primary recording moniker of vocalist and guitarist [[Mark Kozelek]]. The project is named after the Korean [[super flyweight]] boxer [[Moon Sung-kil|Sung-Kil Moon]].<ref>{{citation |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050219233857/http://www.rockpile.net/features.php?action=view&id=118 |url= http://www.rockpile.net/features.php?action=view&id=118 |work= Rockpile |title= Mark Kozelek |first= Andrea |last= Bussel |archive-date= February 19, 2005 }}</ref>

Following the delayed release of Red House Painters' final studio album, ''[[Old Ramon]]'' (2001), vocalist and guitarist Kozelek began recording new material under the name Sun Kil Moon with bandmates Anthony Koutsos (drums) and Jerry Vessel (bass), alongside Geoff Stanfield and [[Tim Mooney]]. The resulting album, ''[[Ghosts of the Great Highway]]'', was released in 2003 to critical acclaim. The project's second studio album, ''[[Tiny Cities]]'' (2005), was composed entirely of [[Modest Mouse]] cover songs.

In 2008, the band released its third studio album, ''[[April (Sun Kil Moon album)|April]]''. Recorded as a three-piece by Kozelek, Koutsos and Stanfield, the album was well received and featured guest vocal appearances from noted indie rock musicians [[Will Oldham]] and [[Ben Gibbard]].

Inspired by [[classical guitar]] music, Kozelek recorded Sun Kil Moon's fourth studio album, ''[[Admiral Fell Promises]]'' (2010), as a solo act, and continued to record mostly alone on its follow-up, ''[[Among the Leaves]]'' (2012). In 2013, Kozelek released three studio albums under his own name before releasing Sun Kil Moon's sixth studio album, ''[[Benji (album)|Benji]]'', in February 2014, to widespread critical acclaim and increased exposure, with the band releasing their seventh studio effort, ''[[Universal Themes]]'', in 2015. Sun Kil Moon's eighth studio album, ''[[Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood]]'', was released in February 2017, which was followed by their ninth studio album, ''[[This Is My Dinner]]'', in November 2018. The tenth Sun Kil Moon studio album, ''[[I Also Want to Die in New Orleans]]'', was released in March 2019. Kozelek was also in [[Cameron Crowe]]'s [[Almost Famous]], as a member of the band.

==History==
Following the dissolution of [[Red House Painters]] after the tumultuous release of their last album, ''[[Old Ramon]]'', Kozelek released a handful of solo recordings before forming Sun Kil Moon in 2002. The initial Sun Kil Moon consisted of Kozelek with former Red House Painters bandmates Anthony Koutsos and Jerry Vessel, as well as bassist Geoff Stanfield of [[Black Lab]] and drummer Tim Mooney.

The band's debut album, ''[[Ghosts of the Great Highway]]'', was released in November 2003 by [[Jetset Records]]. It contains several songs concerned with true-life stories of deceased boxers, such as Mexican featherweight champion [[Salvador Sánchez]], Filipino flyweight champion [[Pancho Villa (boxer)|Pancho Villa]], and also Korean boxer [[Duk Koo Kim]]. Two of the three boxers died at the age of 23; Kim died at 27. The album was well received by critics, garnering an overall rating of 84/100 on [[Metacritic]].com.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.metacritic.com/music/ghosts-of-the-great-highway/sun-kil-moon |title= Ghosts Of The Great Highway Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More |work= Metacritic |publisher= CBS Interactive Inc. }}</ref>

The band's follow-up ''[[Tiny Cities]]'' was released in November 2005 on Kozelek's own label [[Caldo Verde Records]]. The album covers eleven songs by the indie/alternative group [[Modest Mouse]]. ''Ghosts of the Great Highway'' was re-issued as a double CD in February 2007 on Caldo Verde. The second disc features six bonus tracks, including a cover of "Somewhere" written by [[Leonard Bernstein]].

Sun Kil Moon's third studio album ''[[April (Sun Kil Moon album)|April]]'' was released in April 1, 2008<ref name="SKM">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunkilmoon.com/|title=Sun Kil Moon: The Official Website for Sun Kil Moon, Mark Kozelek, and Red House Painters|website=Sunkilmoon.com}}</ref> and features guest vocals from [[Will Oldham]] and [[Ben Gibbard]]. The album was issued as a double CD, featuring a bonus disc of alternate recordings of album tracks. The album was met with further critical acclaim, including a 4.5/5-star rating from [[AllMusic]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/april-mw0000783392 |title= April – Sun Kil Moon: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |work= AllMusic |publisher= Rovi Corp |first= Thom |last= Jurek }}</ref> and 4-star reviews from ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'', ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', and ''[[Drowned in Sound]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.metacritic.com/music/april/sun-kil-moon |title= April Reviews, Ratings, and Credits and More |work= Metacritic |publisher= CBS Interactive Inc. }}</ref>

''[[Admiral Fell Promises]]'' was released on July 13, 2010,<ref name="SKM" /><ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |url= http://pitchfork.com/news/38601-sun-kil-moon-announce-new-album/ |work= Pitchfork |title= Sun Kil Moon Announce New Album |first= Ryan |last= Dombal |date= April 26, 2010 |publisher= Pitchfork Media Inc. }}</ref> and whilst credited to Sun Kil Moon, only Kozelek plays on the record, on [[Classical guitar|nylon stringed guitar]], and vocals.<ref name="PM">{{cite web |first=Stephen M. |last=Deusner |title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Sun Kil Moon: Admiral Fell Promises |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14430-admiral-fell-promises/ |date=July 13, 2010 |access-date=July 13, 2010}}</ref>

''[[Among The Leaves]]'', Sun Kil Moon's fifth studio album, was released on May 29, 2012. Tim Mooney, the band's former drummer, died in June 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title= R.I.P. Sun Kil Moon, American Music Club Drummer Tim Mooney |first= Evan |last= Minsker |date= June 16, 2012 |work= Pitchfork |publisher= Pitchfork Media Inc. |url= http://www.pitchfork.com/news/46880-rip-sun-kil-moon-american-music-club-drummer-tim-mooney/ }}</ref>

Sun Kil Moon's sixth studio album, ''[[Benji (album)|Benji]]'', was released in February 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/52419-sun-kil-moon-announces-new-album-benji-shares-richard-ramirez-died-today-of-natural-causes/|title=Sun Kil Moon Announces New Album Benji, Shares "Richard Ramirez Died Today of Natural Causes"|author-first1=Evan|author-last1=Minsker|work=Pitchfork|date=September 25, 2013 }}</ref> The record met with critical acclaim,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/benji/sun-kil-moon/critic-reviews|title=Critic Reviews for Benji – Metacritic|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=March 24, 2014}}</ref> and was named in the Best of 2014 lists of ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]'',<ref name=factaoty>{{cite web|last1=Fact staff|title=The 50 best albums of 2014 – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.|url=http://www.factmag.com/2014/12/09/the-50-best-albums-of-2014/51/|website=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact magazine]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|date=December 9, 2014}}</ref> [[Stereogum]],<ref name=stereogumaoty>{{cite web|last1=Stereogum|first1=Chris|title=The 50 Best Albums Of 2014 – Stereogum|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1721100/the-50-best-albums-of-2014/list/attachment/benji-3/|website=[[Stereogum]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|date=December 2, 2014}}</ref> Pitchfork,<ref name=pitchforkaoty>{{cite web|last1=Powell|first1=Mike|title=Staff Lists: The 50 Best Albums of 2014|url=http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/9558-the-50-best-albums-of-2014/5/|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork Media]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|date=December 17, 2014}}</ref> [[Rough Trade (shops)|Rough Trade]],<ref name=roughtrade>{{cite web|last1=Rough Trade staff|title=Albums of the Year 2014|url=http://www.roughtrade.com/aoty2014|website=[[Rough Trade (shops)|Rough Trade]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|date=December 2014|archive-date=December 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219131315/http://www.roughtrade.com/aoty2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Drowned in Sound,<ref name=disaoty>{{cite web|last1=Adams|first1=Sean|title=Drowned in Sound's 50 Favourite Albums of 2014|url=http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4148558-drowned-in-sounds-50-favourite-albums-of-2014|website=[[Drowned in Sound]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|date=December 16, 2014|archive-date=December 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217125459/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4148558-drowned-in-sounds-50-favourite-albums-of-2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Tiny Mix Tapes]],<ref name=tmtaoty>{{cite web|last1=Rubz|first1=M|title=2014: Favorite 50 Music Releases of 2014 | Staff Feature | Tiny Mix Tapes|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/features/2014-favorite-50-music-releases-of-2014?page=3|website=[[Tiny Mix Tapes]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|date=December 2014}}</ref> and the [[NME]].<ref name=nmeaoty>{{cite web|last1=NME staff|title=NME's Top 50 Albums Of 2014 | NME.COM|url=http://www.nme.com/photos/nme-s-top-50-albums-of-2014/364635|website=[[NME]]|publisher=[[IPC Media]]|access-date=December 19, 2014|date=December 2014}}</ref> Soundblab selected it as the best album of 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Penczak|first1=Jeff|title=Top 10 Releases of 2014|url=http://www.soundblab.com/articles/5359-jeff-penczak-a-writer-s-top-10-releases-of-2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628035649/http://soundblab.com/articles/5359-jeff-penczak-a-writer-s-top-10-releases-of-2014|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 28, 2015|website=Soundblab|access-date=February 28, 2018}}</ref>

Sun Kil Moon's seventh album of original material, ''[[Universal Themes]]'', was released on June 2, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/58533-sun-kil-moon-announces-universal-themes/|title=Sun Kil Moon Announces Universal Themes|date=February 18, 2015|access-date=February 21, 2015|work=Pitchfork Media}}</ref> The album features contributions from drummer [[Steve Shelley]], who previously collaborated with Kozelek on the album, ''Benji''.<ref name="pitchforkannounce">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/58533-sun-kil-moon-announces-universal-themes/ |title=Sun Kil Moon Announces Universal Themes |first=Evan |last=Minsker |work=[[Pitchfork Media|Pitchfork.com]] |date=February 18, 2015 |access-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref>

On July 20, 2016 it was announced that Sun Kil Moon would release a new [[double album]], ''Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood'' on February 17, 2017. The announcement was accompanied by the release of a new song, ''God Bless Ohio''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/66950-sun-kil-moon-announces-new-album-shares-new-song-god-bless-ohio-listen/|title=Sun Kil Moon Announces New Album, Shares New Song "God Bless Ohio": Listen|date=July 20, 2016 |publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]]|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> The album was released on February 17, 2017 with [[Caldo Verde Records]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1925044/stream-sun-kil-moon-common-as-light-and-love-are-red-valleys-of-blood/music/album-stream/ |title=Stream Sun Kil Moon Common As Light And Love Are Red Valleys Of Blood |work=Stereogum |date=February 15, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2018 |author=Breihan, Tom}}</ref> Mark Kozelek subsequently toured [[Europe]], [[South America]], and the United States, both as a solo act and with Sun Kil Moon, to promote the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sunkilmoon.com/bio.html |title=Sun Kil Moon |website=Sunkilomoon.com|access-date=June 14, 2018}}</ref>

On November 1, 2018, Sun Kil Moon released their ninth studio album, ''[[This Is My Dinner]]''. The following year, their tenth studio album was released, titled ''[[I Also Want to Die in New Orleans]]'', named after the [[Suicideboys|$uicideboy$]] album ''[[I Want to Die in New Orleans]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/mark-kozelek-retitles-collab-lp-to-i-also-want-to-die-in-new-orleans-after-seeing-suicideboys-poster/ |title=Mark Kozelek sees $uicideboy$ poster for 'I Want To Die In New Orleans,' retitles his LP 'I Also Want To Die In New Orleans' |website=Brooklynvegan.com |date=2018-11-30 |access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref> This album saw Kozelek working with Donny McCaslin and Jim White, the former being heavily present on [[David Bowie]]'s 2016 album, ''[[Blackstar (album)|Blackstar]]''.

==Boxing references==
Kozelek's favorite sport is boxing, and the name Sun Kil Moon was inspired by that of boxer [[Moon Sung-kil]]. Kozelek discussed boxing and the murder of [[Agapito Sánchez]] four years after a fight he witnessed in a 2012 interview:
{{quote|Their backgrounds are extremely harsh and they work very hard to move up in their careers. I was in attendance at the [[Manny Pacquiao]]-[[Agapito Sánchez]] fight in San Francisco in 2001. When I heard Sánchez was murdered shortly after, it had a profound effect on me. It hurts when anyone dies young, but when you see the backgrounds of these guys and the path they've taken to try to find some light in their lives, it hurts to see them die young.<ref name= TQR />}}

Several of the band's songs are inspired by the sport, such as "[[Duk Koo Kim]]".<ref name=TQR>{{cite web |title= Famous Fight Fan: Mark Kozelek |work= The Queensberry Rules |first= Mark |last= Ortega |date= February 11, 2012 |url= http://queensberry-rules.com/2012-articles/february/famous-fight-fan-mark-kozelek.html }}</ref> Duk Koo Kim was a Korean boxer who died after a nationally televised bout with [[Ray Mancini]] on November 13, 1982. Mancini is from Youngstown, Ohio, which is approximately 70 miles from Kozelek's hometown of Massillon. The triumph of the local hero soon turned into a tragedy that included the suicide deaths of both Kim's mother and the bout's referee, [[Richard Green (referee)|Richard Green]].<ref>[http://www.lvrj.com/sports/11232441.html "25 Years Later: The Death Of Duk Koo Kim"], ''Las Vegas Review-Journal'', November 13, 2007</ref> The song "Pancho Villa" is named after [[Francisco Guilledo|the Filipino boxer known by that name]], and also mentions [[Salvador Sánchez]] and [[Benny Paret]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858563333/|title=Sun Kil Moon – Pancho Villa Lyrics – SongMeanings|website=SongMeanings|access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref>

==Band members==
During live performances, [[Mark Kozelek]] is currently accompanied by:
*Ben Boye – keyboards (2016–present)
*Chris Connolly – keyboards (2014–present)
*Ramon Fermin - classical and electric guitar (2017–present)
*Nick Zubeck – electric guitar, six-string bass (2014–present)
*Mike Stevens – drums (2015–present)
*[[Steve Shelley]] – drums (2015–present; occasional performances)
*[[Neil Halstead]] – electric guitar (2015; occasional performances)

;Former members
*Eric Pollard – drums (2014)<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/mark-kozelek-and-sun-kil-moon-bring-quiet-storms-to-town-hall-20140729|title=Mark Kozelek and Sun Kil Moon Bring Quiet Storms to Town Hall|website=rollingstone.com|date=July 29, 2014 |access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref>
*Vasco Espinheira – guitar (2014)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://altamont.pt/vasco-espinheira-dos-blind-zero-em-digressao-com-os-sun-kil-moon/|title=Vasco Espinheira dos Blind Zero em digressão com os Sun Kil Moon|date=March 13, 2014|website=altamont.pt|access-date=July 8, 2017}}</ref>
*Isabel Castelvi – cello (2014)<ref name="rollingstone.com" />
*Matt Boyer – guitar
*Phil Carney – guitar
*Anthony Koutsos – drums
*[[Tim Mooney]] – drums
*Geoff Stanfield – bass guitar
*Jerry Vessel – bass guitar

==Discography==
;Studio albums
* ''[[Ghosts of the Great Highway]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Tiny Cities]]'' (2005)
* ''[[April (Sun Kil Moon album)|April]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Admiral Fell Promises]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Among the Leaves]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Perils from the Sea]]'' (2013) (with [[The Album Leaf]])<ref group=Note>Only credited under the names Sun Kil Moon and [[The Album Leaf]] in Japan and Taiwan, elsewhere it was credited as a collaboration between [[Mark Kozelek]] and [[The Album Leaf|Jimmy Lavelle]].</ref>
* ''[[Benji (album)|Benji]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Universal Themes]]'' (2015)
* ''[[Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood]]'' (2017)
* ''[[This Is My Dinner]]'' (2018)
* ''[[I Also Want to Die in New Orleans]]'' (2019)
* ''Welcome to Sparks, Nevada'' (2020)
* ''Lunch in the Park'' (2021)
* ''Quiet Beach House Nights'' (2023)
* ''All the Artists'' (2025)

;EPs
* ''Tonight The Sky'' (2009)
* ''I'll Be There'' (2010)
* ''Birthday Girl'' (2024)
* ''One Day In May'' (2024)

;Collaborations with [[Jesu (band)|Jesu]]
* ''[[Jesu/Sun Kil Moon]]'' (2016)
* ''30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth'' (2017)

;Collaborations with Amoeba
* ''Sun Kil Moon and Amoeba'' (2024)

==Soundtracks / songs in films or television==
* "Kentucky Woman" (in ''[[Elizabethtown (film)|Elizabethtown]]'')
* "The Arrival" (in ''[[The Girl Next Door (2004 film)|The Girl Next Door]]'')
* "Carry Me Ohio" and "Lily and Parrots" (in ''[[Shopgirl]]'' and ''The Elephant in the Living Room'')
* "Gentle Moon" (in ''[[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|Friday Night Lights]]'')
* "Heron Blue" (in ''[[Crash (2008 TV series)|Crash]]'' season 1, episode "F-36, Sprint Left, T-4" during closing credits, in ''[[I Am Zozo]]'' and in ''[[Gears of War 3]]'' "Ashes to Ashes" trailer and ''The Elephant in the Living Room'')
* "Lost Verses" (in ''[[Californication (TV series)|Californication]]'' season 2, episode 12: "La petite mort")
* "Like the River" (in ''[[Sons of Anarchy]]'' season 1: pilot)
* "Tonight the Sky" (in ''[[Brothers & Sisters (2006 TV series)|Brothers & Sisters]]'' season 3) and ''The Elephant in the Living Room '')
* "Ålesund" (in ''[[Sons of Anarchy]]'' season 3, episode 11: Bainne)
* "Glenn Tipton" (in ''[[Sons of Anarchy]]'' season 4, episode 12: Burnt and Purged Away)
* "Third and Seneca" (in ''[[Sons Of Anarchy]]'' season 5, episode 3: Laying Pipe)
* "Among The Leaves" (in ''[[The Big C (TV series)|The Big C]]'' season 4, episode 2: Hereafter: You Can't Take It With You)
* "Onward" (in ''[[Youth (2015 film)|Youth]]'')
* "Third & Seneca" (in ''[[Youth (2015 film)|Youth]]'')
* "That Bird Has A Broken Wing" (in ''[[Rectify]]'' season 2, episode 2: "Sleeping Giants")
* "Heron Blue" (in ''[[Tin Star (TV series)|Tin Star]]'' season 2, episode 6: The Bagman Cometh)

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sunkilmoon.com/ The official Sun Kil Moon/Mark Kozelek/Red House Painters website]
* {{discogs artist}}
* [http://www.markkozelek.com/ The official Mark Kozelek website]
* [http://www.caldoverderecords.com/ The official Caldo Verde Records website]

{{Sun Kil Moon}}

{{Mark Kozelek}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rough Trade Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups from San Francisco]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 2002]]
[[Category:Folk rock groups from California]]
[[Category:Indie rock musical groups from California]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in California]]

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Sun Kil Moon