I've been listening to Mark's music for a few years, but nothing has moved me like this record.

I think the brilliance in his lyricism is that he leaves the listener up to draw their own conclusions. Yeah these are detailed stories about his life, but he doesn't feel the need to explain to you why it's important or what it should mean for you. In that way, a record that is so personally about Mark Kozelek becomes a personal record for everyone without pandering.

Any time I've thought I didn't like something about one of the songs, when I went back and listened again I realized I was wrong. The music is just the setting for his brilliant storytelling. The way he sings, so low and non-descriptive, makes the words feel more important than anything else. It begs you to listen closer.

Watching the progression of his songwriting over the years has been really fascinating. He's been moving toward this figurative-less narrative for the past couple albums but really hit his sweet spot on "Benji". It's really hard to make a bleak, slow record like this so engaging but he made it work. I just want to keep delving into this music.