Sometimes, here at amadeus, we get the feeling we were born in the wrong decade. Long gone are the days that once bred the long, tangle-haired musicians, plucking out ambient, psychedelic guitar solos, and albums so intoxicating they could be found on repeat all day and still leave us drumming our fingers along. Yet right when musicianship of the likes of Duane Allman seemed inimitable, the Philadelphia-born Kurt Vile manages to reinvigorate the musical stylings of the 70s while fostering his own unmistakable brand of zenned-out, guitar-picking psych-folk.
Pulling creative influences from groups like Sonic Youth, and crooners like Neil Young, Vile’s stripped down and soggy lo-fi charm captures a sound that few artists have been able to create. An active musician since 2003, it was Vile’s fourth studio album, Smoke Ring For My Halo (2011), that drew critics and musical devotees towards Vile’s unmatchable skill. Met with critical success, Vile began to draw larger crowds in a matter of months. From playing small venues of 200 people, to headlining shows of 1500+ people, Vile’s guitar dominated songs have drawn the masses.
His ability to produce albums of sincerely peaceful songs, that are diverse, but never completely diverge from the collection, is a talent that musicians aspire to communicate on a single record. It’s only our hope that Vile will have many more musical years ahead of him, likely leaving a legacy of experimental guitar solos in his wake.
As Vile records his new LP, that is currently unnamed, he insists it will be his best yet. Undoubtedly, Vile will be a man of his word. The music that was once lost years ago has been progressively making a comeback. Luckily, for anyone who has ever felt like they too belong in a prior generation, Vile will continuously fill that musical void.
– Taylor Wojick, Contributing Writer