2011, Matador Records

VINYL FORMAT. Philadelphia singer/songwriter Kurt Vile returns with his second proper album (as 2008's Childish Prodigy was a compendium of sorts). Smoke Ring for My Halo is a gorgeously layered record. Ranging from the tender breezy folk in "Jesus Fever" to the tuff urban guitar riff of "Puppet to the Man," Vile's distinctive Philly-accented vocal ties together a sweeping and evocative project - a true American psychedelic folk album.