Old Ramon

Red House Painters

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 10, 2001)
• Original Release Date: April 10, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B00005AU1T
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #41,416 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Released almost concurrently with head House Painter Mark Kozelek's solo venture What's Next to the Moon (a delightful selection of deconstructed AC/DC covers), Old Ramon allows the rare opportunity to hear an artist both then and now. Recorded in '97, Old Ramon languished in the limbo of label fallout, finally to be rescued and released by Sub Pop in '01. Meanwhile, though, it seemed Kozelek had moved on, releasing a flurry of projects with nary a look back, making Old Ramon almost seem like an afterthought. But what a lovely afterthought it is. The trademark features of a Red House Painters' joint are all here: the songs are long and meandering, the guitars seesaw languidly, the drums plod, dissonant harmonies moan, and Kozelek's olive-oil voice seeps around everything. The best tracks include the light and airy "Wop a Din-Din," an homage to Kozelek's cat; the dark and beastly "Byrd Joel"; and the understated "Cruiser." Still, though, the album doesn't quite shake off its purgatorial past and remains more of an asterisk amid the band's outstanding back catalog. If you already love the Painters, Old Ramon is a godsend. But novitiates might better be off checking out the lovely cascade of Ocean Beach or Kozelek's aforementioned solo joint. --Tod Nelson

Product Description
Sixth album recorded in the fall of 1997 through the spring of 1998, was intended for release that summer. However the major labels piled delay upon delay. Old Ramon features 10 tracks of classic material for fans and newcomers of the unique Kozelek style. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Old Ramon" indeed, April 10, 2001

By	Seth Howard (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Well, after 3 years it's finally out. Having been slipped a promo copy about a month ago I've had some time to form impressions of "Old Ramon" so here goes...

On first listen, long time RHP fans may find it hard to suppress their collective gag reflex at "Wop A Din Din" - Kozelek's tribute to his cat. If it weren't for the sheer earnestness of this song, it would certainly fall flat. It's definitely a catchy tune, and if you can stomach the fifth grade writing assignment lyrics you may like it a lot.

"Byrd Joel" is a breezy song that recalls some of the lighter moments on "Songs For A Blue Guitar". Lyrically, it's more obscure (in typical RHP fashion), but the beautiful guitar overdub textures and the hypnotic fuzz bassline will definitely draw you in.

"Void" is the first sign that this is indeed the same band that made "Down Colorful Hill". Here Kozelek's ruminations about a relationship are punctuated by little 80's-style lead guitar in the choruses. The combination works surprisingly well.

"Between Days" is by far the standout song on "Old Ramon". While the hook is hardly similar to that of "Make Like Paper" (on "Blue Guitar"), the song serves a similar purpose - to kick things up a notch. The interplay of overdriven guitar, slide guitar and harmonica is brilliant, and the lyrics really mesh with the tune to lend the song a sense of motion.

"Cruiser" is a low key ramble through the streets and highways of LA. Despite the fact that the windows are down and the stereo is blasting, the narrator and his companion are both quietly alone. Nobody writes a song like this better than Mark Kozelek.

"Michigan" seems to be a loose retread of the themes covered in "New Jersey", but with a fuller arrangement.

"River" is the closet thing to vintage Red House Painters to be found on "Old Ramon", with its epic length and chilling, sparse bass and drums. For me, this song comes up a little bit short because it lacks the lyrical sting of earlier efforts. Kozelek's great gift as a lyricist is that he seems able to sing things that most people would regret saying later, and this quality seems to be largely absent here.

"Smokey" is a fine song, and the version on "Old Ramon" is very well executed, but it lacks the intimacy of the demo version (featured on the first Shanti Project compilation). The nylon string guitar and lack of drums on the demo seem better suited to the melancholy subject matter, but it's interesting to compare the two.

"Golden" is intriguing. Written shortly after the death of John Denver, this song conveys both Kozelek's admiration of and contempt for his inspiration. It's a deceptively powerful little tune, and it's nice that it was left as a simple acoustic number. It could have easily collapsed under the weight of an elaborate arrangement.

"Kavita" is a fitting closer, reminding us that as grown up as we may think we are, we're still the same girls and boys that congregated on opposite sides of the gym at the dance.

Is this the epic masterpiece I was waiting for? No, it is not. However, "Old Ramon" is a fine album, and when it is judged on its own merits rather than compared to the hype and anticipation which have surrounded it, this becomes apparent. The same goes for comparing this to the Red House Painters' early work. There is no equivalent to "Mistress" or "24" on "Old Ramon", but that doesn't mean there are no equally powerful moments on it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Old Ramon is a masterpiece, September 29, 2003

By	chris (cincinnati, ohio) - See all my reviews

Ok...with much respect to all the old RHP fans! I can hardly believe my eyes when I see a few people make any bad comments on anything about this record, "Michigan" being such a great song! being I didn't really like the band til I heard Old Ramon, it was a great place to start.

I am a firm believer on an artist gets better and better with time, sure its not the long drawn-out reverby versions of the old 1993, 94's RHP, but this album is by far the best album in my opinion. and I even told that to Mark Kozelek personally!!

the production is a better than anything I have ever heard from them, "Songs for a Blue guitar" was alright, but it had too many different changing in the tones between songs, like it may have been recorded in a different times.

but Old Ramon holds its wieght, very constant, I will not go as far as saying these have all the hits on it, I mean lets face it, "Japenese to English, Katy song, Uncle Joe and Grace Catherdal Park" are all RHP classics, and are also my favorite songs as well.

but what I am trying to say is that this whole album is such a well weaved piece of emotion, everysong really fits so perfectly after the next song, which is something I find not in any other RHP albums, there are NO awkward tracks, unlike the other songs I have too skip on other albums.

just in the opening line on "Smokey" "you caved my Karma in" is just enough sadness and feeling to make you cry!!

and all that nonsence about the 4th track "In between days" being ugly and overbearing, thats definatly not the case, trust me if your a first time buyer this is the one to start with, then I would go back one album at a time!

but don't forget that he has a band now called "Sun Kil Moon" and its awesome!!!!coming Nov 4th on Jetset Records!!

and don't forget that he has a lIve album on Subpop called White x-mas,truly the second masterpiece!!

chris

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great band that we need to hear more from., February 16, 2003

By	Aaron J Norris (Pella, IA United States) - See all my reviews

I have been a huge fan of Red House Painters since the first time I heard them. It was "Summer Dress," from their ablum Ocean Beach. I haven't stopped listening since.

While I don't think that this album is quite as good as "Songs for a Blue Guitar," it is definately worth owning. The first four songs along with number nine are the ones that stand out for me. This album took forever to get to us and it has been way too long since we have heard from them. We need more.