Once again, Vile season is upon us. Laid-back indie rock charmer Kurt Vile is preparing to follow his 2022 major-label debut (watch my moves) with a new LP called Philadelphia's Been Good To Me. It's largely self-produced, with Vile recording most of it at home in Philly's Mount Airy neighborhood. We've already posted lead single "Chance To Bleed," and now Vile follows it with another one.
"Zoom 97" is the blissfully chill opening track from Philadelphia's Been Good To Me. It's all about Vile driving around Philadelphia and reflecting on his own good fortune in life: "True love is the pure drug for me." It's got a sparkly jangle-groove, and it also has lyrics about its own sparkly jangle-groove. You have to love how Vile is willing to deliver a conversational, literal lyric like this one: "Check out my hands, my chimin' chords on a Goldtone mandolin guitar." And then he plays some of those chiming chords! Kurt Vile only tells the truth. Here's what he says about "Zoom 97":
This was the first song that came together on this record that we knew was real special, like we knew we were on the right track ya know…
And it’s a 100% Philly born and bred affair.
I could reminisce out loud but for now we takin it inward… “jump in my whip… my engine whines, yeah… zig zag my way… down Lincoln Drive, yeah…”
See yall out there in the world soon enoughs :)
Listen below.
Philadelphia's Been Good To Me is out 5/29 on Verve.






