Down Colorful Hill [Original recording reissued]

Red House Painters | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: 4ad / Ada
• ASIN: B00002SWSW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #100,487 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #74 in Music > Indie Music > Pop > Singer-Songwriters
  • #88 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Folk Rock

Track Listings

1. 24

2. Medicine Bottle

3. Down Colorful Hill

4. Japanese to English

5. Lord Kill the Pain

6. Michael

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Few Flawless Albums in Existence, October 15, 2002

By 

Sidney Carton (Edinburgh, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Down Colorful Hill (Audio CD)

When I first bought this CD, I was actually pretty angry that it only had six songs. However, several of those songs are quite long, and so at least in terms of length, you don't get the feeling of just listening to an EP. It's also a concept album, even more than the other RHP records, because it is probably the most concentrated on one issue: emotional breakdown.

The album begins by taking apart the issue of growing older and dealing with the anxiety of losing youth. Then, you get two tracks both concentrating on the difficulties of effectively communicating emotion to a lover in a very intense relationship and the consequences involved. "Down Colorful Hill" is at the heart of the album and sums up the desperation Kozelek feels in his "prayers for success". (This could possibly mean the success of his career, as well, but more than likely it's just success in general.) "Lord Kill the Pain" is a very sarcastic song that wishes the rest of the world would just die so Kozelek wouldn't have to deal with anyone or anything anymore. The real genius of the album comes in with the closer "Michael", which is perhaps the most touching song, lyrically, I have ever come across. In it, Kozelek recounts his youthful experiences with his friend who ended up become a worthless bum many years after their friendship. For Kozelek to label such a person as his "best friend" shows an insight into human love that most people, let alone musicians, don't have the capacity for.

I fell in love with the lyrics of this album first, and then slowly I came to love the music. I don't know if it's the best place to start if you're trying to get into RHP, though. I think Rollercoaster or Retrospective are probably the best places to start. I highly recommend DOWN COLORFUL HILL to the already-interested RHP/Kozelek fans.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of storytelling and song, April 2, 2001

By 

E. Gironda (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Down Colorful Hill (Audio CD)

This album may appear short, but it is far too dense to be any longer. Were there one more song your heart would break. I don't think there is another album in my rather substantial collection that carries the emotional weight that Down Colorful Hill does.

While many of RHPs songs are vignettes, moments in time, I feel Down Colorful Hill contains their best cinematic work - songs which meander from melancholy to resigned, and a lot of other territory as well. "24" opens with the plaintif "So it's not/Loaded stadiums/Or ballparks..." the ambitions of a life not quite fulfilled stated so simply, how could one not identify with it? The disc proceeds through the epic "Medicine Bottle," an experiment in song structure that works amazingly well. Each of the other tracks is equally rewarding, though some may take time to appreciate in their own right.

A beautiful, beautiful work, well worth listening to.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Down Colorful Hill, still sad., November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Down Colorful Hill (Audio CD)

Re-released by 4AD, Down colorfull hill is a beautiful recording, expressive, yet extremely sad. In my oppinion Mark's darkest lyrics. "Japenese to English" the most taking of all.For new RHP fans, Mark's voice is higher than in the currently released SONGS FOR A BLUE GUITAR. I highly recomed this disc.