Childish Prodigy

Philadelphia singer-songwriter Kurt Vile (yes, that is his real name) makes his Matador debut with Childish Prodigy. His second album (the first came out on the tiny Gulcher label, vinyl on Woodsist), it is a rich tapestry of rock and folk sounds, occasionally lo-fi, occasionally lustrous, hitting touchstones from Tom Petty to Street Legal-era Dylan to Spaceman 3 to Skip Spence.

Childish Prodigy is more diverse than its predecessor, and ranges from pounding rockers like 'Hunchback' and 'Freak Train' to gorgeous folky numbers like 'Overnite Religion' and the soaring trumpet in 'Amplifier.' It includes a Dim Stars cover (Richard Hell and Thurston Moore's early '90s supergroup), plus two hidden tracks. The more you listen, the more deeply you will be drawn in to Vile's explorations of rock history. This is an absorbing and addictive record with layers and layers of discovery.