THE SCUZZY COLLAB

Kurt Vile ★★★★

Childish Prodigy (MATADOR, 2009)

Recorded in Philadelphia but sounding like it was made in 1970s New York, Vile’s louche-rocking third album was co-produced by Granduciel, who also played electric guitar in backing band The Violators. Features, on Freak Train, an appearance by the Roland TR-707 drum machine that would drive The War On Drugs’ sound (here in a propulsive Suicide-ish role) and the lo-fi sampling of acoustic guitar loops in the reverie-inducing Blackberry Song.