I find it incredibly difficult to concentrate on writing whilst other stimuli are there to distract and entice me away from my jottings. In particular, music almost always has the capacity to totally pull my mind off topic, unless of course it is instrumental, foreign-language, or bland.
With that in mind, you must know that this new EP by Kurt Vile contains American English singing on every track, and listening to it continuously whilst typing, rarely did my mind wander. If you want music to disappear off into the area beyond the background and not challenge you in the slightest, you have come to the right release. Similarly, if you deliberately need relaxing, "chilling out", or sending to the land of slumber, perhaps this record is for you.
It sounds like the bonus disc of B-sides without the accompanying best-of, or an LP of pure filler, and where you may expect flip-side hits - nothing. How apt, I note, that Mr Vile is pictured many times on the cover in an unconscious state, as it appears he managed to record this without stirring from the land of nod. The cover seems to indicate that he is a Hard Partyer, so maybe this is his hungover, “man, I’m feeling pretty tired from last night but I’m compelled to strum this morning” record.
'Downbound Train' caused me the most distraction when writing this, but I’m not sure if that’s because it is good, possibly slightly varied from the rest (being written by The Boss), or because the way it's recorded calls to mind a grunge-revival (or even a soft nu-metal) ballad. You know the kind. 'Laughing Stock' has some Vile hallmarks, but is directionless, in a cool dude on a motorbike driving up and down the main drag of a sleepy town trying to look even cooler kind of way. 'Life’s A Beach' is also reminiscent of previous releases, but is lumbered with a terrible name, ironic or not.
The whole thing is stretched out over the length of an album proper, which just compounds its inherent problems. Having said this, the album is at least cohesive, drawn together in its lethargy, and as a body of lazy work it must therefore work. Whilst it hangs together in slack pleasantry, music by those such as Kurt Vile should demand at least a little more attention; his back catalogue undoubtedly does. It’s merely alright, but then so are a lot of things, like not having to stand up on the bus, or finding a quid in your jeans pocket.
I’ll not likely re-listen, unless I have some serious concentrating to do and some background noise to sonically screen off.