If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Modest Mouse front man Isaac Brock should be all smiles. Tiny Cities, the new release from Sun Kil Moon, is a spirited collection of covers chronicling the trio's journey from indie-rock obscurity to mainstream stardom.
While most covers feel uninspired and disposable, the interpretations found on Tiny Cities stand on their own merits. In fact, Sun Kil Moon mastermind Mark Kozelek is quite well versed in covers.
During his tenure with his previous band, Red House Painters, he covered kindred spirits John Denver, Neil Young and Simon & Garfunkel while rendering wayward material from Yes and The Cars his very own. Most telling of his talent, however, is 2001's solo release What's Next to the Moon, in which Kozelek transforms ten AC/DC classics into tear-jerking ballads.
Simply put, Tiny Cities follows this tradition par excellence. At no point does the muse of Modest Mouse interfere with one's enjoyment of the album. The cover versions presented by Sun Kil Moon are not meant to replace the originals but rather to compliment them.
Lyrically, it seems, there really are two sides to every story. Brock's words, fleeting in their original context, prove enduring under the close scrutiny of Kozelek's careful delivery. Most dramatically, "Ocean Breathes Salty" reveals itself a stark elegy for a friend: "Good luck/For your sake I hope heaven and hell are really there/But I wouldn't hold my breath."
Even so, the emotional weight of such words would fall flat if it weren't for their musical accompaniment. Typical of Kozelek's past work, the music is a pleasantly organic mix of acoustic guitar ornamented lightly with electric guitar fills, swaying string arrangements and reserved percussion. Kozelek's captivating tenor, like another instrument, fits comfortably alongside said elements, making songs like "Neverending Math Equation" and "Space Travel Is Boring" among the most engaging.
While the transition from fringe guitar rock to delicate acoustic pop might not be a logical one, there is not a failed experiment in all of Tiny Cities. "Four Fingered Fisherman" and "Grey Ice Water" follow all the conventions of balladry, while "Trucker's Atlas" is a traveling song fit for any beatnik singer-songwriter. Making these comparisons legitimate, Kozelek boils seemingly disparate songs down to their simplest common form.
Tiny Cities' association of Isaac Brock's existential lyrics and Mark Kozelek's studied musicianship is a resounding success. Here, Sun Kil Moon, loose and at their most confident, proves that originality doesn't always have to come from original material. Somewhere smiling, Isaac Brock is just now realizing what a songwriter he is. Thanks, Koz.
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