"This is my ‘bringing it all back home to Philly’ record": Kurt Vile announces new album Philadelphia’s been good to me
Kurt Vile has announced details of a new album Philadelphia’s been good to me released at the end of May, declaring it, "my best vocal record... my best electric guitar record [and] my most organic record, made in the comfort of my own zone.”
The album was created between late 2023 and early 2026, with Vile describing the process as “an inspired state of flux”. The record, is a love letter to the city he never left, even as his career took him around the world: “This is my ‘bringing it all back home to Philly’ record,” Vile says. “I’m treating it like my last record. I put everything into it."
While he travelled to sessions in Memphis, Los Angeles and Athens, the majority of the record was laid down in a basement studio at his Mt. Airy home. Largely self-produced, with assists from Violators bassist Adam Langellotti and longtime collaborator Rob Schnapf, Vile says the LP returns to his home-recording roots while achieving a higher fidelity. “It’s never overly polished, but it’s still pretty damn shimmery,” he notes.
Vile has also shared the lead single and video, "Chance to Bleed", which features guest vocals from Natalie Hoffman (NOTS, Optic Sink), Ethan Buckler (King Kong, Slint) and Greg Cartwright (Reigning Sound, The Oblivians). He describes the song as “hillbilly techno”, and an ode to “old-time, lo-fi, DIY rock ‘n’ roll nights”. Its video was filmed at Philadelphia’s Kung Fu Necktie and includes cameos from comedian Jim E Brown and hometown rapper Schoolly D.
The cover image, a never-before-seen photograph by the late William Eggleston, was sent to Vile by the legendary photographer’s son Winston. Though it depicts a ramshackle bar sign in Memphis, Vile says the sentiment it communicates “transcends space and time”.
Vile has also announced a 2026 world tour, including UK dates at End of the Road festival in Dorset (6 September), followed by shows in Bristol, Brighton, London’s Troxy (9 September), Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Leeds.
Philadelphia’s been good to me artwork
Philadelphia’s been good to me tracklisting
“Zoom 97”
“99 BPM”
“Rock ‘o Stone”
“You don’t know cuz it’s my life”
“Chance to Bleed”
“Philly’s been good to me”
“99th song”
“Red Room Dub”
“Every time I look at you”
“Piano for Sarah”
“Avalanches of Snow”
Philadelphia’s been good to me is released on 29 May via Verve Records
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