Listening to the music of Kurt Vile and the Violators is a lot like taking a trip without a clear destination in mind. The hazy-voiced lead singer has been compared to Neil Young, and for good reason—his meandering tracks have similar brands of folk and rock, and the lyrics cover themes of self-discovery and introspection that hearken to Young’s earlier albums. Incorporating fuzzy, lo-fi guitar alongside the occasional keyboard or synthesizer, Vile both complicates and celebrates the folk standards on which he has built his career.
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