10 Most Underrated Guitarists Of All Time
7. Kurt Vile
The enigmatic singer songwriter sounds pretty much how he looks. The long hair and relaxed vibes are no red herring - Vile makes some of the best chilled out folk rock since The Byrds.
That doesn’t mean he can’t play a mean guitar when he wants to, though. Before he discovered the joy of a really long album, his fingerpicking on the likes of “Peeping Tom” is sparse, beautiful, and rhythmically unpredictable. On “Smoke Ring For My Halo” he creates a simple, chugging chord sequence that envelops the listener.
It’s 2013’s Wakin On A Pretty Daze album where Kurt really cuts loose, though. The title track in particular is a guitar session you want to get involved in, with Vile taking breaks as and when he wishes to indulge in wah-drenched mild freakouts. It’s indulgent, but charmingly so. It sounds a blast to play, and makes for a great listen.
He’s good for a tight riff, too, on the minor hit “Pretty Pimpin’” or the incongruously crunchy and punchy “KV Crimes”. It’s like you’re jamming in your pal’s bedroom, only your pal’s an exceptionally good songwriter.