Philly singer/songwriter Kurt Vile is one dreamy cat: his loping, sedated take on psychedelia is the perfect soundtrack for a nice summer day. His latest record, Bottle It In, sees him picking up the pace a bit but remaining true to his peaceful twang.
Let’s be clear: Kurt Vile knows exactly what his style and niche are. His bright, casual guitar work and round, dazed vocals instantly put a smile on your face, and Bottle It In is no exception. The first track “Loading Zones” has him singing at a bit more of a clip than fans will be used to, but he handles it deftly, with some excellent guitar flourishes as well. It’s “aggressively chill,” if such a term exists.
In true Kurt Vile form, as the album progresses, it gets more into blissful explorations of glittering guitar effects and his supremely cool, laid-back aesthetic. As the video for “One Trick Ponies” illustrates, this is great music for hiking and being in nature. In terms of subject matter though, things are a bit more introspective and focused on loving those around us, even with their faults, and finding new ways to deal with the struggles of everyday life.
One thing about the music of Kurt Vile, and especially here on Bottle It In, where a lot of the material is very personal and vulnerable, is his ability to craft these beautiful, meandering, hypnotic tracks that inspire both joy and a kind of melancholy. A good analogy is the falling leaves on a fall day. It’s pretty for sure, but there is a certain picturesque sadness to the scene.
The jangly, generally mid-tempo-to-slow tracks on Bottle It In may not exactly shatter new ground for Kurt Vile as a musician, but it is a sterling example of the phrase “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” From achingly gorgeous to breezy and carefree, from street-level Philly to the woods in rural Pennsylvania, Kurt Vile has put together another terrific album of all-around great music, perfect for relaxing on the porch, exploring nature, or finding out a little more about yourself.
Rating: 8 out of 10
