The Real Music

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Kurt Vile is probably most famous for his band The War On Drugs, but while he was a primary member of the band, he was releasing a handful of solo records throughout the 2000's that seemed to slip under the radar time and again. That is, until he released Smoke Ring For My Halo back in March of 2011 and solidified his name as one of the frontrunners of the contemporary singer/songwriter scene. 

There's a fine line between your 'conventional' singer/songwriters who usually stick to straightforward folk music and the 'non-conventional' ones who play more rock-oriented songs. Kurt Vile doesn't fit into either category because he's one of the few who completely violates that fine line to make his own creative masterpieces, but miraculously retains a similar sound throughout the record. Case and point; when was the last time there was a great singer/songwriter record that had a huge emphases on the drums, and even has a drum machine on a couple of tracks? Listen to the track "In My Time" and you'll know exactly what I mean. There's only one word to describe it, and that is innovation. 

One thing I have come to admire the most about Kurt Vile is his witty lyricism. He's just a phenomenal story teller, just like Bruce Springsteen. Although he's not quite on par with Bob Dylan or Jim Croce, I believe that one day in the not-so-distant future, he will reach that level. Seeing how Kurt Vile showcases a brilliant amount of talent while still being able to improve shows great promise for the singer/songwriter scene to be restored to the high position it had in the 90s.

On a personal note, this album just so happens to be my favorite album of 2011. And on another personal note, nobody cared about Kurt Vile in my town until he recently played at Bonnaroo 2012, and I live just two hours away from that. Now I see his records everywhere. Either for better or for worse, I'm glad that he's getting recognition even in my neck of the woods.  

Kurt Vile has since released an EP titled So Outta Reach back in November of 2011 that is a compilation of six original songs that were recorded during the Smoke Ring For My Halo sessions.  

B. W. Everett 16/06/12