Album out now: Kurt Vile

Kurt Vile’s anticipated new album, (watch my moves), is out today. In celebration of the release, the official music video for the sun-dappled song, Flyin (like a fast train), is out today. Inspired by his lifelong love of trains, the song is a poetic tribute to Vile’s father who worked as a train conductor for decades and pays homage to Philadelphia’s SEPTA Regional Rail. Recorded mainly at OKV Central—Vile’s newly created home studio in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia—(watch my moves) was self-produced along with help from longtime collaborator Rob Schnapf (Richard Thompson, Elliott Smith). Across the record—which includes 14 originals as well as a version of Bruce Springsteen’s Wages of Sin—Vile pulls his talents in unexpected directions, resulting in a vibrant, yet meditative album propelled by his trademark laid-back charm and curious spirit.

Reflecting on the record, Vile shares, “When Waylon Jennings became an outlaw country artist, he liked to record at Hillbilly Central, which was Tompall Glaser’s studio. OKV Central is my version of that in Mount Airy. I’ve come into my own here, and at the same time I’m getting back to my home-recording roots,” and continues, “It’s about songwriting. It’s about lyrics. It’s about being the master of all domains in the music. I’m always thinking about catchy music, even though it’s fried, or sizzled, out. It’s my own version of a classic thing—it’s moving forward and backward at the same time.”

In addition to Schnapf, Vile’s longtime band, The Violators, and James Stewart, the album features special guests Chastity Belt, Cate Le Bon and percussionists Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint, Courtney Barnett) and Sarah Jones (Hot Chip, Harry Styles).

KURT VILE CONFIRMED EUROPEAN TOUR DATES

• August 26—London, U.K.—All Points East Festival
• August 27—Bath, U.K.—Forum
• August 28—Leeds, U.K.—Stylus
• August 29—Glasgow, U.K.—QMU
• August 30—Belfast, U.K.—Limelight
• August 31—Dublin, Ireland—Vicar Street
• September 2—Birmingham, U.K.—Moseley Folk & Arts Festival
• September 3—Manchester, U.K.—Manchester Psych Fest
• September 4—Dorset, U.K.—End of the Road Festival
• September 5—Antwerpen, Belgium—OLT
• September 12—Köln, Germany—Gloria Theater
• September 13—Amsterdam, the Netherlands—Paradiso
• September 14—Nijmegen, the Netherlands—Openluchttheater Goffert
• September 15—Berlin, Germany—Huxleys
• September 16—Copenhagen, DK—The Grey Hall
• September 17—Malmö, Sweden—Plan B
• September 19—Kortrijk, Belgium—Depart
• September 20—Paris, France—Le Trianon

Tracklist

1. Goin on a Plane Today

2. Flyin (like a fast train)

3. Palace of OKV in Reverse

4. Like Exploding Stones

5. Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone)

6. Hey Like a Child

7. Jesus on a Wire

8. Fo Sho

9. Cool Water

10. Chazzy Don’t Mind

11. (shiny things)

12. Say the Word

13. Wages of Sin

14. kurt runner

15. Stuffed Leopard