Since departing The War on Drugs in 2008, Kurt Vile has kept his head down and remained quietly prolific. Even as his former band mates struck gold with the crossover success of Lost in the Dream, Vile hit his own rich vein of form, gaining global recognition in the process.
Current single ‘Pretty Pimpin’ is a runaway radio and online hit, garnering millions of streams. It is easy to see why, because this is the best thing he’s done by some distance. ‘Pretty Pimpin’ is a rollicking and insanely catchy lo-fi folk pop tune that betters previous career highs like ‘Goldtone’.
Contrary to many people’s expectations, Kurt Vile is his real name as opposed to some sort of self-hating alter ego. He appears to confronting his former demons head-on, and embracing married life, chipping in the lovely line, “Comes a time in every man’s life when he’s gotta take hold of the hand that ain’t his, but it is.”
B’lieve I’m Going Down is a great album of slacker- orientated alt-country. Hopefully, Vile will now raise his game live, as previous appearances have been notoriously hit and miss.