Albums of The Decade - 90. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

90. KURT VILE - SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO

One of the sloppiest, most existential artists in modern music; one of the most talented artists out there. One of the grainiest springboards for better things -  2011 saw me discover this singer-songwriter with gusto aplomb. Vile is absolutely someone whose output has rang continuously in my ears all decade - especially with that swimming effect used on the effects pedals, which is also employed by his former band The War On Drugs.

I remember it being cold for once in Taipei in the winter of 2011 and "Runner Ups" coupled with the oncoming trade wind, created this aura, this relief, this depth:

If it ain't workin', take a whiz on the world
An entire nation drinkin' from a dirty cup
My best friend's long gone, but I got runner ups

When I'm walkin' my head is practically draggin'
All I ever see is just a whole lotta dirt
My whole life's been one long running gag
Two packs of red apples for the long ride home
Well, you know, baby

Lyrics like that are typical of his self-deprecation and there's plenty more where that came from, as you could probably gauge from the title track and other delights like "Peeping Tomboy" - playful is key here :) 

top records of 2011 - 10. Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo

10. KURT VILE - SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO
Breaking into the top 10 then is this one. 10 and 11 on this list are certainly linked in as Kurt Vile used to be in The War on Drugs. What we're talking about is 2011 was the year that americana and guitar effects worked swimmingly well together to produce a sound that offers both the sonic need for echo and the emotional need for reflection.

Take "runner ups" for example:

"My best friend's long gone / but I got runner-ups, yeah!" shows the inevitability of drifting apart from close buddies and "Smoke Ring For My Halo" says it all really - confusion about ego in a sardonic manner. This boy has it all.

Well, Vile was only signed by Matador Records as a solo artist in 2009, but was born in 1980, so has the life experience to depart on us too. He shows he's been through a lot, but of course he still wants to find comfort: "I have everything I need / It's fine now" - sometimes it's the direct and simple things that are best because they know exactly what they want to say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnrB3UEoZDc