What Else Is There?

..:: Kurt Vile - Girl Called Alex ::..

Kurt Vile was last seen when he dropped one of the best albums of 2011, Smoke Ring For My Halo, (which just so happened to include my 6th favorite song of the year, “Puppet To The Man”) but the guy must have been hard at work for the last two years because his latest release, Wakin On A Pretty Daze, is yet another step forward. The album is awash with liquid guitars and Kurt’s signature slacker vocals and while a case could be made for almost any song on here to be the favorite (including the almost title track ”Wakin On A Pretty Day”) “Girl Called Alex” just edges out the rest of the pack to be my stand out. Layers of soft guitars float in patterns while Kurt softly describes one of his idyllic relationship fantasies. There even comes a moment where he realizes words just wont cut it and his guitar inserts itself halfway through a thought.to do the talking for him. Then finally near the end, things slowly melt into a sleepy outro, as if Kurt knew we’d need a little help getting back down to earth.

..:: #6 - Kurt Vile - Puppet To The Man ::..

I’m not sure if Kurt Vile could have picked a more fitting title for his newest album. Every song on it feels like it was conceived inside somewhere dark, smoky and mysterious. On “Puppet To The Man” guitars burble, creak and wash over each other while Kurt’s voice shape-shifts through many forms. One minute he sounds like Lou Reed, but then out of nowhere his voice stretches out and reverberates inside my skull. I don’t know how the guy manages to make so many sounds out of his voice and guitars, but as long as he keeps on doing it, I’ll be happy. Best Moment: Kurt’s final request of “will you help me doooo it? Will you help me do it?” at 3:08.