“I’m a sucker for pop”: the album Kurt Vile calls a masterpiece
When two worlds collide—or should I say Crash? Former War on Drugs electric guitarist Kurt Vile delves into his essential five albums he simply can’t live without, offering a well-deserved nod to Charli XCX. “I’m a sucker for pop music,” he candidly admits before praising the English singer-DJ’s 2022 release as “next level,” confidently claiming, “It has the whole package.”
With unabashed enthusiasm, Vile declares, “This record is just a pop masterpiece.”
Rising from the pulsating music scene of Philadelphia, Vile first caught attention as a key player in The War on Drugs before embarking on a solo journey that would cement his status as an indie rock icon. Vile’s sound is characterised by its lo-fi charm, labyrinth guitar work, and introspective lyrics that get into the fabric of the mundane and existential pondering. His breakthrough album, Smoke Ring for My Halo, back in 2011, collected across-the-board acclaim, firmly establishing him as a cornerstone of the indie music mansion. With follow-ups like Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze and Bottle It In, he continued to challenge boundaries, captivating a devoted fan base with his signature style.
However, when he’s not alongside Courtney Barnett or working on his solo endeavours, is it true that he’s got Charli XCX playing to the max? Apparently so. After all, everyone’s got that guilty pleasure, though this isn’t sounding so guilty.
Holding onto the top spot on his list, it’s clear that Crash has firmly weaved itself into the neo-psychedelia and Americana of Kurt Vile. After listening to it “over and over on the plane ride on the way home on CD,” he was quite literally forced into a state of ‘Constant Repeat’, as the track aptly suggests. Vile breaks down the album into two distinct categories: “bangers” and “songs”. A few of the notable tracks are ‘Twice’ and ‘Used To Know Me’, claiming the melodies to be “melancholy, sad and beautiful at the same time”, a turn of tables to the 2024 ‘Brat’ season.
Picking apart the latter of the two, Vile attempts to describe how the bridge makes you linger, waiting for that peak, and as the track skips a beat, so does his heart. “She’s just got it”. With Charli’s fans affectionately known as “Angels”, he and his daughter jest about their recent transformation into “overnight angels”, having been utterly captivated after just one listen. “It’s just exciting to see what she’s going to do next.”
We could definitely use an update on how he’s vibing to tracks like ‘Von Dutch’ and ‘Taste’ with Billie Eilish. Does anyone have the inside on those listening sessions?
Among the other heavyweights making their mark on Vile’s top five list is the legendary Terry Allen with his seminal Juarez, alongside GZA’s iconic Liquid Swords. Also in the mix is the complete box set of The Eternal Myth Revealed by Sun Ra, a cosmic journey in its own right, capped off by PJ Harvey’s haunting White Chalk—a choice that needs little explanation, I might add.
