Smoke Ring for My Halo Image
  • Summary: The fourth full-length from the Philadelphian songwriter showcases his ability to weave stories and strings together with his lyrical craftsmanship – comparable to Tom Petty and Bob Seger – and guitar-playing skills.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Apr 28, 2011
    90
    Smoke Ring For My Halo might not be for everyone, but it will definitely find a wider audience than anything else in Vile's catalogue.
  2. Mar 8, 2011
    90
    The result is Vile's best record to date, an idiosyncratic amalgam of intimate performance and communal expression - and one that continues to reveal new layers upon repeated listens.
  3. Mar 8, 2011
    50
    For its circuitousness, there's always been a lean, mean backbone to the guy's writing; even his most bored-sounding toss-offs came wrapped in barbed wire. Here, he just kinda sounds bored.

See all 28 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Album of the Year. The production on songs such as Runner Up's and On Tour is phenomenal. An album to introduce your friends to, and live the songs sound even better with his trademark drawl. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. Whilst mostly impressive, there are moments of overwrought weariness that portray a self piteous, almost precious characteristic that Vile can't help but reveal. That said, such self absorption often guides the listener to the complexities of the new millennial stoner/strummer, and one can forgive the odd soul searching moment because overall the rewards outweigh the negatives. http://hackskeptic.com Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

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