To these ears, Vile is leaning into some of his greatest strengths, packing in three ten-minute long highlights, and displaying a range of mood and vibe that keeps the 80-minute runtime feeling breezy. Always thoughtful, often pensive, and usually with a healthy dose of wit, Vile is a restless guitar player and songwriter, and this year released Bottle It In, possibly his best solo album yet. He excels at crafting long, lazy-paced acoustic guitar odysseys that provide comfortable space for reflection and good vibes. Soothe yourself with indica weed and indica music.ĭespite his winking assertion in 2013’s “Goldtone” that “I never, as they say, touched the stuff,” Philadelphia’s Kurt Vile has been kickin’ it stoner-style for fifteen years and seven solo albums. We currently have NW Grown Do-Si-Dos and Virginia Company’s Raspberry Dosidos, and both are excellent choices for the happy comfort they provide. My favorite is Do-Si-Dos and all of its genetic crosses. The boygenius EP is a listening experience designed for a PNW fall ideally you should cozy up in a blanket with a hot drink and a big bowl of indica weed while the rain falls.
![smino noir genius smino noir genius](https://images.genius.com/0b15f3afe130ee2e283b7c585dfe8550.700x700x1.jpg)
The trio’s voices sound absolutely heavenly in harmony, too, making the climactic track “Salt in the Wound” one of the can’t-miss performances of 2018. But the treasure of this EP is in the way Baker’s emotional catharsis, Dacus’ empathetic warmth, and Bridgers’ thoughtful sadness compliment and combine with one another. Yes, their debut EP is only six songs, half of which started as solo tracks by each of the three, the other half developed together in studio. All three artists have released solo full-lengths in the last year and a half, which makes their current gig as a supergroup, entertainingly titled boygenius, quite impressive. The last five years or so have seen a fresh crop of talented indie singer-songwriters enter the playing field, the most acclaimed of which include Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus.
#SMINO NOIR GENIUS FULL#
My first pick is Sweetwater Farms’ Java Kush, an indica hybrid that, like a full listen to Smino’s NOIR, provides tons of complex, funky flavor and a refreshingly creative atmosphere. This being a creative, catchy hip-hop record with a hell of a vibe, I’d recommend smoking some kind of OG Kush cross while listening to it. On the other hand, the way Smino deftly tours through current sounds, beats, and tones makes the whole thing compulsively listenable.
![smino noir genius smino noir genius](https://images.genius.com/598143e91749c50aaa36d14af8995b29.1000x1000x1.jpg)
At 18 tracks, NOIR suffers from the very-2018 problem of being overlong. Another great song for the stoner crowd is “Tequila Mockingbird,” which has the catchiest fusion of dub/reggae and hip-hop I’ve heard in years. Addictive single “KLINK” is a great first taste: an oddly shrieked chorus and swaggering beat will lodge themselves in your head for days. His new album NOIR makes good on the promise of that first release, offering a uniquely creative combination of hip-hop styles and delivering his woozily energetic point of view over it. Louis’ own exuberant young rapper Smino broke out last year with his debut full-length, blkswn.
![smino noir genius smino noir genius](https://www.mclub.com.ua/images/art/artist_97257.jpg)
I Feel It in My Ears: 2018 Albums for a Perfect PNW Autumn (and what to smoke while listening)