Smoke Ring For My Halo
by Kurt Vile

From Kamens 02/27/2019 04:12 | #232715

One of the first albums I fell in love with. Stands the test of time eight years later.

This album is a perfect blend of music nerdiness, sarcastic humor, and real emotion genuinely expressed. KV is one of today's great songwriters imo and doesn't get nearly enough credit.

From junodog4 02/18/2015 03:29 | #135203

Super laidback feel. I can see the ties to War On Drugs. Pleasant throwback music.

This was a neat little collection of songs.

From RockyRaccoon 07/18/2013 16:36 | #81879

I would imagine that if a member of Fleet Foxes decided to leave and make their own solo album, it would sound like this album. With a voice that sounds like Devendra Banhart and Lou Reed had a baby, Kurt Vile has created quite an interesting album. A great folk-rock album that has bits of multiple bands in it, but also has a uniqueness to it. Very dreamy sounding folk, which is not really something I come across often in folk music. The only other time I’ve really heard a dreamy, ethereal sound to folk music is from Fleet Foxes. And it’s been working pretty well for them. That’s why I like this album. It’s pleasant to listen to but it also has an interesting quality to it. It’s simple, but complex at the same time. And it’s quite good.

From JoaoMoreira 07/11/2013 23:55 | #81146

Not as brilliant as "Childish Prodigy", still a great album with some major songs. "Jesus Fever" is an outstanding song.

From ProfessorSquid 04/15/2013 19:33 | #73268

Decided to give this another listen after just hearing his new record. I haven't tired of this one yet.

I like this album a lot. I hear some Zep 3, some Sister Morphine, but Kurt makes it all his own. This will probanly make my chart at some point.

From lancashirearab 04/14/2012 15:43 | #40253

Lovely album. He gets some great guitar sounds on his albums.

From maitredj 01/02/2012 15:25 | #34190

'Smoke Ring For My Halo' creates a sound of its own.
The songs are simple sketches but they stick in your head like cosmic mantras.
Kurt Viles guitar adds lightness to what could've been an album of stoner Dirges. The songs are energized by his acoustic pluckings. He gives the songs a lot of space and looseness. They echo and reverberate.

This album doesn't try to be clever.
I enjoy it more when I hear it by accident. It is one of those rare albums that works beautifully in the background.

impossible to categorize but instantly recognizable,
'Smoke ring' burns with a buzz of its own.
Of all the albums released in 2011, I found myself returning to this one the most.
A strange but comforting addiction.