Kurt Vile – Philadelphia's been good to me
Kurt Vile is more upbeat than ever on his excellent new album, Philadelphia’s been good to me – it could just be his best yet
Slacker rockstars don’t come much better than Kurt Vile. While his biggest hit Pretty Pimpin put him on the map in 2015, the constant hitmaker has been pretty prolific since 2008, and Vile is more upbeat than ever on his excellent new album, Philadelphia’s been good to me.
You don’t know cuz it’s my life proudly proclaims his Philly heritage. Lead single Chance to Bleed looks back on his early music days in self-proclaimed "hillbilly techno” fashion – along with a cameo from Jim E Brown in the music video. The title track incorporates synthy undertones for a more pensive moment, which leads into the drawling 99th song that’s a characteristically Vile-like ten minutes long.
The album is also largely self-produced by Vile, which makes its comforting sound all the more endearing. This is especially so on the minimally beautiful instrumental, Piano for Sarah, before album closer Avalanches of Snow sees guitars and glockenspiels combine (surprisingly) well in Vile’s own inimitable way. Don’t be fooled by all the easy grooves, though – this is a record that Vile has loved making, and it shows. Sweetly melodic, passionately crafted, it could just be his best yet.
Listen to: Chance to Bleed, You don’t know cuz it’s my life