Smoke Ring for My Halo
Studio album by
Kurt Vile
ReleasedMarch 8, 2011
RecordedMarch 2010 – May 2010
Genre
Length45:48
LabelMatador
Producer
  • John Agnello
  • Kurt Vile & the Violators
Kurt Vile chronology
Square Shells
(2010)		 Smoke Ring for My Halo
(2011)		 So Outta Reach
(2011)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.5/10[1]
Metacritic82/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The A.V. ClubB+[4]
The Boston Phoenix[5]
Mojo[6]
NME8/10[7]
Pitchfork8.4/10[8]
Q[9]
Rolling Stone[10]
Spin9/10[11]
Uncut[12]

Smoke Ring for My Halo is the fourth studio album by American indie rock musician Kurt Vile, released on March 8, 2011 on Matador. A deluxe edition was released in November 2011, including the subsequent EP, So Outta Reach (2011). The album was produced by John Agnello, Kurt Vile and his backing band, the Violators. Regarding the album's lyrical content, Vile stated: "It’s just me and those thoughts you have late at night when nobody is around. It is more a feeling than a statement – a general wandering feeling. It’s kind of a wandering record."[13]

The album was released to critical acclaim upon its release, with Mojo placing the album at No. 12 on its "Top 50 albums of 2011" list,[14] while Uncut placed the album at number 14[15] and Pitchfork placed the album at number 16.[16]

Background and recording

Following the release of Childish Prodigy (2009), Vile and his backing band, the Violators, embarked upon an extensive tour, with Vile stating, "There has been a lot of touring and more growing – more than people might know."[13] The tour was the first to feature the full Violators line-up, with Vile noting, "[It was the] first time the full band could come along. We had kind of a shitty rental van and it was the first time we were all together for that long. At points it was like Lord of the Flies, everyone ready to eat each other up, and then we're suddenly like best friends again. And we still are best friends."[17]

The band subsequently entered the studio with producer John Agnello. Comparing Smoke Ring for Halo's sessions to his previous studio album, Vile stated, "With Childish Prodigy, I had made a whole record not knowing where I was going – it was me in my studio, somewhere between lo-fi and, maybe not super, hi-fi. [...] I wanted to have a concept of this album being a statement as a whole, as opposed a little bit from here and a little bit from there. It shows a kind of introspective folk side more, while still being into rock. It doesn't capture my whole sound, but it captures part of my sound and is more concise as a record."[13]

During the album's initial recording sessions, Vile attempted to record "kind of trance-like, Appalachian folk-style songs [...] and at the time it was too rushed, and I still hadn't nailed it. I attempted to get these tunes down, but they aren't ready yet."[18] The final two songs to be recorded for the album were "Society Is My Friend and "Puppet to the Man", with Vile stating: "Matador did say, 'It's great, but there aren't any rockers on it.' So I [went] back in and recorded a couple rockers, which I'm glad I did. "Society Is My Friend" and "Puppet to the Man" – I recorded them at the end."[19]

Reflecting upon the album in 2013, Vile stated, "I proved myself with Smoke Ring. It was me maturing. I made a good pop record. And all the songs were me, but that was like a growing record. Growing in a lot of ways. But it didn't feel exactly me. I wasn't entirely comfortable or experienced with the scenario, and I feel that [subsequent album, Wakin on a Pretty Daze] is just 100% my voice all the time."[20]

As of January 2012 UK sales stand at 14,000 copies according to The Guardian.[21]

Writing and composition

Much of the album's material was written on an acoustic guitar, with Vile stating, "I bought a new Martin guitar at the time and I was using at home to get ready to record and it came out real acoustic."[22]

Regarding the religious connotations of the album's second track, "Jesus Fever", Vile stated, "My family was religious – I am not particularly practicing religion myself but I was definitely exposed to it. They were super-religious but not like over-the-top to the point it turns negative. But, it is also kind of a gospel thing – back to old music. The Rolling Stones and Spacemen 3 tap into that religious thing really well, as it is kind of a blues-gospel thing. So, it is a combination of coming from a religious family and that musical lineage."[13]

"Ghost Town" was previously released as "Sad Ghost," a B-side on the single release of "In My Time." The song "Runners-up" contains some of the same lyrics as the song "Red Apples" from the album, God Is Saying This to You... (2009).

Accolades

Critics' lists
PublicationCountryAccoladeRank
NMEUK50 Best Albums of 20115[23]
MojoUKAlbums of the Year12[24]
PasteUSPaste's Top 50 Albums of 201144[25]
PitchforkUSThe Top 50 Albums of 201116[26]
PopMattersUSThe 75 Best Albums of 201111[27]
QUKQ's 50 Best Albums of 201116[28]
Rolling StoneUSRolling Stone Best Albums 201139[29]
SpinUSSPIN's 50 Best Albums of 20114[30]
StereogumUSStereogum's Top 50 Albums of 201134[31]
UncutUKUncut's Top 50 Albums of 201114[32]
gogoyokoICLgogoyoko albums of the year 20111[33]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kurt Vile, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Baby's Arms"3:56
2."Jesus Fever"3:46
3."Puppet to the Man" (Vile/Granduciel)3:52
4."On Tour"5:26
5."Society Is My Friend"5:39
6."Runner Ups"4:00
7."In My Time"3:47
8."Peeping Tomboy"4:24
9."Smoke Ring for My Halo"4:35
10."Ghost Town"6:23
11."(shell blues)" (hidden track)1:01

So Outta Reach EP

A deluxe edition of the album was released including the subsequent EP, So Outta Reach.

  1. "The Creature"
  2. "It's Alright"
  3. "Life's a Beach"
  4. "Laughing Stock"
  5. "Downbound Train" (Bruce Springsteen cover)
  6. "(so outta reach)"

Personnel

Kurt Vile and the Violators

  • Kurt Vile – vocals, guitars, sequencer (1), synths (2 and 5), piano (2 and 9), Korg (3 and 10), Mellotron (4), Farfisa (7)
  • Adam Granduciel – electric guitar (3, 5 and 9), lead acoustic guitar (6), tremolo guitar (10), bass guitar (3), Mellotron (4), percussion (7)
  • Jesse Trbovich – bass guitar (2 and 9), slide guitar (3), electric guitar (6), vibrato guitar (9), feedback guitar (10)
  • Mike Zanghi – drums (3 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10), percussion (1, 3, 6 and 9)

Additional musicians

  • Mike Polizze – bass guitar (1, 4 and 10)
  • Lea Cho – ambient keys (1), piano (4), keyboards (10)
  • Mary Lattimore – harp (4 and 10)
  • Rob Laakso – Arp 2600 (1)
  • Meg Baird – backing vocals (1)
  • Michael Johnson – drums (2)
  • John Agnello – vibro slaps (6)

Recording personnel

  • John Agnello – producer, recording engineer, mixing, overdubs (2 and 7)
  • Kurt Vile & the Violators – producer
  • Jeff Zeigler – recording engineer (2 and 7)
  • Ted Young – assistant engineer
  • Jonathan Low – assistant engineer
  • Matt Boynton – mixing (3)
  • Rob Laakso – mixing (3)
  • Greg Calbi – mastering

Artwork

  • Shawn Brackbill – band photographs
  • Michael Ast – dumpster photograph

Charts

Chart performance for Smoke Ring for My Halo
Chart (2011) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[34] 154
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[35] 8
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[36] 24
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[37] 38

References

  1. ↑ "Smoke Ring for My Halo by Kurt Vile reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved December 25, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Reviews for Smoke Ring for My Halo by Kurt Vile". Metacritic. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "Smoke Ring for My Halo – Kurt Vile". AllMusic. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  4. ↑ Williams, Christian (March 8, 2011). "Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo". The A.V. Club. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  5. ↑ Martin, Garrett (March 3, 2011). "Kurt Vile | Smoke Ring for My Halo". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on July 7, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring for My Halo". Mojo (209): 95. April 2011.
  7. ↑ Denney, Alex (March 2, 2011). "Kurt Vile – 'Smoke Ring for My Halo'". NME. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2013.
  8. ↑ Bevan, Davon (March 7, 2011). "Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring for My Halo". Q (298): 127. May 2011.
  10. ↑ Hermes, Will (March 8, 2011). "Smoke Ring for My Halo". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ Aaron, Charles (March 8, 2011). "Kurt Vile, 'Smoke Ring for My Halo' (Matador)". Spin. Archived from the original on June 27, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring for My Halo". Uncut (297): 88. April 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Freeman, John. "TLOBF Interview // Kurt Vile". thelineofbestfit.com. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "MOJO's Top 50 Albums of 2011". Stereogum. December 2, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Uncut's Top 50 Albums of 2011". 29 November 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  16. ↑ "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  17. ↑ Ruen, Chris. "Speaking of Banjos: Kurt Vile Explains the Universe". thefader.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  18. ↑ Greene, Jayson. "Q&A: Kurt Vile on His Favorite Bob Seger Song and the Neil Young Solo That Changed His Life". villagevoice.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  19. ↑ "Kurt Vile: Extended Interview | 34th Street Magazine". 34st.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  20. ↑ Barton, Laura (29 March 2013). "Kurt Vile: from Boston forklift driver to the Hotel California". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  21. ↑ Lynskey, Dorian (16 January 2012). "Indie rock's slow and painful death". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  22. ↑ "Kurt Vile: Interview At Pitchfork Music Festival 2011: 'I'm a real". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  23. ↑ NME.COM. "50 Best Albums of 2011 – NME.COM". NME. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Mojo End of year Lists..." Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "Paste's Top 50 Albums of 2011". 29 November 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  26. ↑ "The Top 50 Albums of 2011 – Page 4 – Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "The 75 Best Albums of 2011". Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  28. ↑ "Q's 50 Best Albums of 2011". 29 November 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  29. ↑ "Rocklist.net....Rolling Stone (USA) Lists Page 2..." Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  30. ↑ "SPIN's 50 Best Albums of 2011 – SPIN". 12 December 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  31. ↑ "Stereogum's Top 50 Albums of 2011". 5 December 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  32. ↑ "Uncut's Top 50 Albums of 2011". 29 November 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  33. ↑ "Gogoyoko albums of the year 2011 | gogoyoko blog". blog.gogoyoko.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  34. ↑ "Kurt Vile Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Kurt Vile Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  36. ↑ "Kurt Vile Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Kurt Vile Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
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