Slave Ambient reverberates American road-rock--Dylan, Springsteen, Petty--and the echoes sound fresh and sometimes dazzling. Kurt Vile's Smoke Ring for My Halo bandmates Adam Granduciel (guitars) and Mike Zanghi (drums) recorded a meandering, open-road album that harkens back to a straightforward (and much-beloved) rock ethic: wide-open, guitar-heavy jams that take you somewhere. Anywhere.
The songs have no proper choruses but they manage to sound anthemic--the sprawling guitar intricacies and chugging rhythm section propel listeners toward big-sky dreams. The record immediately feels hopeful, even if the deep-cut tracks require--and reward--repeated listens. The band's superb EP Future Weather, also released this year, is a necessary companion.
Granduciel shares some of Vile's lyrical phrasing, drawing out and emphasizing the long vowels. Depending on the song, he captures the essence of multiple vocal influences without pandering to a convenient one-off vibe. If this was not one of The Traveling Wilbury's favorite records this year, then Tom has some explaining to do.
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