Kurt Vile // b'lieve i'm goin' down...

Kurt Vile

b'lieve i'm goin' down…

Matador

4/5 stars

It's business as usual for Kurt Vile on his latest album b'lieve i'm goin' down. The guitarist and songwriter has a penchant for creating hazy rock tracks that make you feel like you're drifting along on a ride in the heartland, or at least a sepia-toned film reel showing the plains of America fly by. On his sixth album, he tweaks his successful approach slightly, cutting back on the reverb a touch without ruining the meditative vibes on tracks like the wonderful "That's Life, tho (almost hate to say)." Unsurprisingly, Vile makes these tracks feel effortless. He's a musician who can whip up impressive ditties that are so conversational and approachable that they feel like he's playing them right in front of you at a small gig. It's a gift that the native Philadelphian has showcased over the course of his career, and one that he continues to show off on b'lieve i'm goin' down. — Alex Bieler