Live at Biko is a live album by American singer-songwriter Mark Kozelek. It was released on July 1, 2014, through Kozelek's own record label Caldo Verde Records.

Live at Biko
Live album by
ReleasedJuly 1, 2014
RecordedApril 4, 2014 at Circolo Degli Artisti in Rome, Italy; April 6, 2014 at Biko in Milan, Italy
GenreFolk rock
LabelCaldo Verde
ProducerMark Kozelek
Mark Kozelek chronology
Live at Victoria Teatern and Stenhammarsalen
(2014)
Live at Biko
(2014)
The Kids - Live in London
(2014)

The album was recorded on April 6, 2014 in Biko Club in Milano, Italy. It features live renditions of Sun Kil Moon tracks, as well as selections from Kozelek's respective 2013 collaborative albums with Jimmy LaValle and Desertshore, Perils from the Sea (2013) and Mark Kozelek & Desertshore (2013).[1] The tracks "I Love My Dad" and "Tavoris Cloud" were recorded on April 4, 2014 at Circolo Degli Artisti in Rome, Italy.[2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic80/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
Consequence of SoundB−[4]
Paste8.2/10[5]
Pitchfork7.8/10[6]
PopMatters7/10[7]

Upon its release, Live at Biko received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 80, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 6 reviews.[3] Dan Caffrey of Consequence of Sound wrote: "If you’re a Kozelek disciple, the songs on Live at Biko won’t give you further insight into the love, lust, humor, and sadness that make him tick, but the dialogue sure will."[4] Paste magazine critic Mack Hayden stated that the album is "as communal as a set of campfire songs, complete with humor, screw-ups and familiarity."[5]

Stuart Berman of Pitchfork noted: "Live at Biko is quick to remind us that Benji is as much a comedy as tragedy, at times forcefully so."[6] PopMatters critic John Paul praised Kozelek's lyrics and storytelling, writing: "Thoroughly exhausting, but highly rewarding, Kozelek’s recent work is some of the most rewarding of his career, Live at Biko proving no exception."[7]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Mark Kozelek except where noted

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)AlbumLength
1."Gustavo"Kozelek, Jimmy LaVallePerils from the Sea 
2."I Watched The Film The Song Remains The Same" Benji 
3."I Love My Dad" Benji 
4."Dogs" Benji 
5."Micheline" Benji 
6."Richard Ramirez Died Today Of Natural Causes" Benji 
7."Ålesund" Admiral Fell Promises 
8."Hey You Bastards I'm Still Here"Kozelek, Chris Connolly, Phil CarneyMark Kozelek & Desertshore 
9."Sunshine In Chicago" Among the Leaves 
10."Carissa" Benji 
11."Caroline"Kozelek, LaVallePerils from the Sea 
12."Tavoris Cloud"Kozelek, Connolly, CarneyMark Kozelek & Desertshore 
13."Ceiling Gazing"Kozelek, LaVallePerils from the Sea 
14."Elaine" Among the Leaves 

Personnel

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  • Mark Kozelek – performance, production, photography
  • Nathan Winter – mixing
  • Et Cetera – graphic design

References

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  1. ^ Hudson, Alex (April 17, 2014). "Mark Kozelek Announces 'Live at Biko' Solo Album". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  2. ^ Live at Biko album liner notes
  3. ^ a b "Live at Biko - Mark Kozelek". Metacritic. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Caffrey, Dan (July 11, 2014). "Mark Kozelek – Live at Biko". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Hayden, Mack (July 11, 2014). "Mark Kozelek: Live at Biko Review". Paste. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Berman, Stuart (July 1, 2014). "Mark Kozelek - Live at Biko". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Paul, John (September 25, 2014). "Mark Kozelek: Live at Biko". PopMatters. Retrieved December 25, 2014.
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