<span class="s1"><strong>Kurt Vile<br/> </strong>Wakin on a Pretty Daze<br/> </span>(Matador)<span class="s2"><br/> </span><span class="s3"> ***</span> <span class="s1">Kurt Vile is establishing himself as one of the premier songwriters in the indie circuit, despite how lazy he sounds. </span><span class="s2">Over the space of three albums, the Philadelphia artist balanced his complex guitar work over vocals that had him sounding like he just got out of bed. </span><span class="s1"><em>Wakin on a Pretty Daze </em>is his most clear-eyed offering yet. Gone is the slightly claustrophobic sound of the previous album <em>Smoke Ring for My Halo</em>. Instead, we have crisper production and more languid grooves. It takes some confidence to open an album with a track clocking in at more than nine minutes, but the track doesn't feel epic. However, the rolling drums and Vile's beautiful acoustic passages make the track resemble a lovely stroll that you don't want to end. <em>KV Crimes</em> initially raises some excitement, but by the end, the track curls back on itself. <em>Wakin on a Pretty Daze</em> does have some dark, emotional currents. <em>Girl Called Alex</em> exhibits some jealousy and self-loathing while <em>Too Hard</em> has Vile promising to lead a better life. That is, if he can be bothered, of course.</span> <span class="s3"><strong><a href="mailto:sasaeed@thenational.ae">sasaeed@thenational.ae</a></strong></span> Follow us <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thenationalArtsandLife">Facebook</a> for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.
