Album Rating: 5.0

Carissa is him musing about whether he should or shouldn’t feel bad about someone he doesn’t know dying - Dunno, it’s interesting but him singing about how he’ll feel when his mum dies or how he feels about his gran and best friend dying just always connected more



Carissa is a great opener for this though

Album Rating: 5.0

The good stuff from his early period is prob more spread than you’re aware yet - and the fact this is such a peak of his latter phase is also prob unclear



For me this is an obvious 5, it’s influenced so much folk since too

Album Rating: 4.5

I actually think that conflict in "Carissa" is what makes the song so interesting and impactful - of course he's gonna feel terrible when his mom/gran/friend dies but the impact of the death of a relative he barely knows is much less expected. And the way the song sets up the album gives it some extra oomph - the kind of song that can only be an album opener. It's also musically my favorite here, the guitar on that is so beaut.

Album Rating: 5.0

DCH is about the same level as Ocean Beach and Songs for a Blue Guitar for me...and April is right up there with Ghosts, if it was edited down it might even have been superior



A lot of good Koz

Album Rating: 4.5

I though initially this might be a 5 but now that it's settled I think there are a few too many almost-duff tunes - if I'm being honest, with the exception of "Jim Wise" I don't reeeeeeally love anything in tracks 4-9, in fact a 4.5 overall may even be a bit of a stretch.

Album Rating: 5.0

I like the exploration feel of Carissa and that it sets the tone so well a bit more than it as a stand-alone great tune I guess. Still, top 3 album of the decade so nit picking, whole album is a genius artistic statement after the mess of Among the Leaves

Album Rating: 4.5

I'm definitely interested to see how I will react to the stuff he's done after this. Rollercoaster is my next up for Koz but after that I'm not entirely sure how I'll attack the rest of the discog, there's just so much lol

Album Rating: 5.0

Rollercoaster is essential, easily best RHP. You’ll love April, that could be your favourite honestly.



Blue Guitar is the most country-ish so again don’t leave that one out.



If you were only going to listen to three more they’re the ones I’d recommend.

Album Rating: 4.5

I'll make it through all the RHP and SKM material eventually, as well as a lot of the solo/collab albums, but it'll take a while. I'll probably have to take a break eventually once I start hitting diminishing returns.

Is either of his 2019 albums worth hearing before year's end?

nope! big diminishing returns with his stream-of-consciousness style after this record

Album Rating: 5.0

In terms of rating this album it’s definitely more than just the sum of its songs - the songs mean more for being listened to with their neighbours

Album Rating: 5.0

The stuff after this is hit and miss but also he’s probably released an entire album’s worth of better songs than any on this album over that period...just spread out to the point of ridiculous.

Album Rating: 5.0

I mean the t/t off ‘Joey Always Smiled’ would def be top 5 or 6 quality if it had featured here for me



Or ‘Birds of Flims’ on the follow up to this one...and on and on

Album Rating: 5.0

Boney - I really like this year’s ‘Joey Always Smiled’ so give it a go - also try the Tindersticks new one.



Depends how much you want to cram a few 2019 releases before the years out - both of those are top 50/solid 4/5 material for me

Album Rating: 4.5

I'll return to Ohio

To the place I was spawned

Going to see where I hung with my cousins

And played with them in the snow and fished in their ponds

Going to see how they've grown

Visit some graves and say, "Hey, I've missed you..."

Album Rating: 4.5

"Ben's My Friend" is such a great epilogue for this album - quite hilarious too:



There's a fine line between a middle-aged guy with a backstage pass

And a guy with a gut hanging around like a jackass

Album Rating: 4.5

Listened to this three or four times now, early ranking would be something like this:

1. Micheline (5)

2. I Watched the Film (4.5)

3. Jim Wise (4)

4. Carissa (4)

5. My Mother's Love (4)

6. Pray for Newtown (4)

7. I Love My Dad (4)

8. Truck Driver (3.5)

9. Richard Ramirez (3.5)

10. Ben's My Friend (3.5)

11. Dogs (2.5)



But I need to delve some more into the lyrics of a couple of these songs.

Album Rating: 4.5

Hmm, my ranked/rated would be:

1. Carissa (5)

2. Micheline (4.5)

3. Ben’s My Friend (4.5)

4. I Can’t Live Without My Mother’s Love (4.5)

5. Jim Wise (4.5)

6. Truck Driver (4)

7. Pray For Newtown (4)

8. I Watched the Film (4)

9. I Love My Dad (3.5)

10. Richard Ramirez Died Today (3.5)

11. Dogs (3.5)

Album Rating: 4.0

5/5: Watched the Film > Jim Wise

4.5/5: Carissa > Micheline

4/5: Ben > Mother's Love > Dogs > Dad

3.5/5: Truck Driver

3/5: Pray for Newtown > Richard Ramirez



Some of the lower ratings might be a shade too harsh tbh

Album Rating: 4.5

“I Watched the Film...” is a strange one for me. It’s great but also the least compelling long song I’ve heard from Koz so far. It’s not my least favorite but it feels the most unnecessary here, I’d probably cut it tbh.