Like Rats

Mark Kozelek's guitar playing continues to grow more and more accomplished and delicate - but most importantly it breathes life into songs without distracting the listener. There are 2 qualities to Mark Kozelek's skills that anyone listening to his career will already be familiar with, but for the sake of this short review they must be mentioned. His song writing is nearly bar-none to nearly everyone, effortless and free-flowing; the stories Mark tells are a joy to be pulled into. The second important quality is his uncanny musicianship; composing and arranging small instrumental playing only to further the listener's experience and thrill.

mark kozelek is the best! love the cover songs! alot of gems on this album!"Young Girls""Onward""I Killed Mommy""I Got You Babe"

If you love his covers of great songs, you'll love this album. Some old school punk songs and some older stuff. All around great stuff.

I can't believe I said it. How could this album get 2 stars? Believe me. It pains me more than you know to write this.I am a hardcore fan of the Kozman. I've met him several times. I've seen him live six times. I own everything the man has created. I can honestly say that every album the man has made since Down Colorful Hill has been truly great. I actually believe he has become better with age, peaking with "Ghosts of the Great Highway" and "April" and "Admiral Fell Promises". I even loved "Among The Leaves" which left man fans with a bad taste in the mouth.Perhaps it is unfair to compare "Like Rats" to the other albums...after all this is composed of covers. Let's compare it to "Tiny Cities". That album, to me, felt inspired. Kozelek took Modest Mouse's music and made it his own. The beauty of the instruments with the melancholy vocals could bring any manly man to tears.To me, this feels...like the first time in Kozelek's catalogue like a cash-in. The songs do not work for me. They don't feel inspired even a little bit. While Kozelek's dark humor has never been lost on me...in fact it's why I feel the man is a genius...this album feels too weird and boring to me. "I Killed Mommy" references someone having sex with their pet in parts?If you love Kozelek, you'll buy it...or at least stream it online first.The new Sun Kil Moon album that is coming out this April is going to be fantastic. If you haven't heard yet, you can stream many of the songs online: "Caroline", "What Happened To My Brother", "You Missed My Heart", and "Baby In Death Can I Rest Next To Your Grave". It's very much like "Kid A" was to Radiohead. Kozelek's pairing with the Album Leaf is mainly an electronic affair. Good stuff.This...you can make up your own mind. I don't need to hear it again.

Kozelek has aged emotionally and psychology many more years than the ones that have passed since he first hit the charts with Red House Painters... As he himself has stated he has run out of ideas and has been deprived of any youthful energy he has once had... Expecting another "Ghosts of the Great Highway" or even "Songs of a blue Guitar", or any other of the many Kozelek albums that are intense demonstrations of emotion, is almost futile at this point.The man will be around for a long time and putting out these mellow laid back and minimalistic albums that work as great night time music to play in the background. He has an incredible and unmistakable voice and has become pretty nifty at guitar picking, and both of those things are well present on Like Rats. If you are not into those things than just don't pick up this album. I enjoy it for it is and Mark Kozelek for what he has become. But I confess I often play Ghost of the great highway and am filled with a naive hope that another masterpiece is still to come.

1. Bad Brains2. Godflesh3. Ted Nugent4. Bruno Mars5. Maxine Nightingale6. Josh Turner7. The Descendents8. Yes9. Genesis10. Danzig11. Misfits12. Dayglo Abortions13. Sonny & Cher

I realize that for most Kozelek fans like myself this album is a bit different. The recording is completely altered from the fresh clear cut style of Among the Leaves. There is however a fresh perspective that comes with that change. These songs although unbearable short, offer rare glimpses of Marks older recording methods. This album was recorded by four people as the album liner states it, and it was recorded over a six month period. I know it's rather sparse as far as arrangements, but sometimes less is more. I am a little unhappy with some of the songs, like free for all, but over all this album shines with a soloist grace. I am not giving it five stars it could have been a bit better in some areas. 4.3 is what I would rate this release.

This is a truly beautiful album. Kozelek covers some fantastic artists including the incredible 'Descendents' and gives all songs a completely different feel.I love playing this album while driving on an autumn morning it is simply gorgeous. Stand out tracks include 'Onward' which in my opinion is one of his finest covers ever and the harrowing 'I Killed Mommy'.I feel that I will be listening to this record for many years to come.

Als eingefleischter Mark Kozelek / Sun Kil Moon Fan muss ich diesmal zugeben: Es ist ermüdend. Ich hatte nach dem abwechselungsreichen Album "Among the Leaves" von SKM wirklich damit gerechnet, dass es auch hier mal wieder etwas peppiger zugeht, aber totale Fehlanzeige. Was mir noch nie passiert ist: Ich habe das Album nach den ersten 5 Titeln aus dem Player genommen und nicht wieder eingelegt... :-/ Ich rate auch treuen Kozelek-Fans hier erstmal genau reinzuhören, bevor die Bestellung abgeschickt wird.

Mark Kozelek performs all of the covers on this Album superbly. Beautiful voice, beautiful acoustic and classical guitar !! once you listen to it you wont want to stop TRULY AMAZING !!!