For a guy who just made his television debut last week, Mark Kozelek sure played his cards right: collaborating with Late Night house band the Roots on the live broadcast while saving this meta, self-deprecating contemplation on the songwriting process for a more appropriate, dimly-lit rehearsal room. “Track Number 8” finds the Sun Kil Moon leader pushing through writer’s block by employing the time-honored approach of writing (or in this case, singing) about the struggle itself. Kozelek turns the exercise into something greater, though, honoring the likes of Elliott Smith, Mark Linkous, and more of the greats we’ve lost along the way in the process. Watch him perform the wry yet poignant Among the Leaves tune above.
