The Stranger

The blogosphere's ablaze about Kurt Vile, a Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter who makes low-fidelity nonchalance an asset. Believe the hype. Vile's 2008 collection Constant Hitmaker repurposes Lee Hazlewood's hazily touching, sung-out-the-side-of-his-mouth ballads and light rockers for late-'00s sensibilities. His new Childish Prodigy beefs up the production values and rocks harder, but it retains Vile's knack for poignantly deadpan melodies and acute, spare arrangements. Less is more, more or less. (High Dive, 513 N 36th St, 632-0212. 9:30 pm, $8 adv/$10 DOS, 21+.) by Dave Segal

Link  |  Post Comment (1)