April

Released in 2008, April represents a pivotal moment for Mark Kozelek under the Sun Kil Moon moniker. Following the Modest Mouse cover project Tiny Cities, this album marked a return to original compositions and further refined the 'nylon-string' sound that would define his later career. Recorded in San Francisco and Seattle, the album is characterized by its extreme song lengths, with several tracks exceeding nine minutes, allowing the music to take on a repetitive, meditative quality. The guest appearances by Ben Gibbard and Will Oldham are subtle but significant, providing a harmonic richness that distinguishes this record from the more skeletal solo works that followed. 'Heron Blue' became the album's most recognizable track due to its placement in high-profile media, but the heart of the record lies in its sprawling openers and closers. Critics noted its 'glacial' pace and 'unflinching' intimacy, cementing it as a high-water mark for 21st-century indie folk.