Loading Zones

"Loading Zones"
"Loading Zones"
Single by Kurt Vile
from the album Bottle It In
Released	August 16, 2018
Length	3:23
Label	Matador
Songwriter	Kurt Vile
Producers	Kurt Vile, The Violators, Peter Katis
Kurt Vile singles chronology
Music video
	"Loading Zones" on YouTube

"Loading Zones" is a song by American indie rock musician Kurt Vile, released as the first single from his 2018 album Bottle It In. Though the song's title refers to Vile's bragging about his skill at parking in restricted areas without receiving a parking ticket, it is more generally an ode to his hometown of Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.

Background and writing

Kurt Vile wrote the song during the recording sessions for B'lieve I'm Goin Down..., but would not record it until more than two years later.^[1] He wrote the song as an ode to his hometown.^[1]^[2] The lines "Sure they knighted me yesterday" and "by mayoral decree" refer to his being given the key to the city.^[2]

Vile said that the song's various metaphors are very loose and "not too scientific".^[2]

Critical reception

The song was acclaimed by Rolling Stone for its "layered guitar gorgeousness" that sounds like "a meld of languid gothic-folk fingerpicking, watery strumming and some weirdly soulful talkboxy wah-wah jive that suggests Joe Walsh by way of Future".^[3] Pitchfork expressed approval for the optimistic and easily identifiable lyrics, as well as the "low-key psychedelic riffage."^[4]

Promotion

Vile promoted the release of the song by mailing fans envelopes marked "Violators" that contained fake parking tickets.^[5] Some were also placed on car windshields.^[5]

Music video

The music video was released on August 16, 2018, and features Vile driving around Philadelphia, where he was raised, eluding the meter maids in comedic fashion.^[6] The meter maids were played by American actor Kevin Corrigan and Pissed Jeans frontman Matt Korvette.^[7]

Personnel

Kurt Vile - lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, harmonica

The Violators

Rob Laakso - bass, Farfisa synthesizer, backing vocal
Kyle Spence - drums
Jesse Trbovich - electric guitar

Additional musicians

Joe Kennedy - backing vocal
Eric D. Johnson - backing vocal
Margaret Yen - backing vocal
Farrah Katina - backing vocal
Robert Robinson - backing vocal

Charts

Chart (2018)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)^[8]	28
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[9]	4

References

^ ^a ^b Konemann, Liam (October 15, 2018). "Kurt Vile: Life Is Beautiful and Terrifying and Hilarious". Dork. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Rindner, Grant. "Kurt Vile Breaks Down "Loading Zones" on Genius' Series 'Verified'". Genius. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
^ Dolan, Joe (August 16, 2018). "Song You Need to Know: Kurt Vile 'Loading Zones'". Retrieved October 13, 2018.
^ Reese, Nathan (August 16, 2018). "Loading Zones by Kurt Vile Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
^ ^a ^b Bloom, Madison (August 16, 2018). "Kurt Vile Returns With New Song 'Loading Zones': Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
^ McKenna, Lindsey (August 16, 2018). "Kurt Vile Parks For Free In 'Loading Zones'". NPR. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
^ Schatz, Lake (August 16, 2018). "Kurt Vile Returns with "Loading Zones", his First New Song in Three Years: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
^ "Kurt Vile – Loading Zones" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
^ "Kurt Vile Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.

This 2018 single-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[DorkInt-1] Konemann, Liam (October 15, 2018). "Kurt Vile: Life Is Beautiful and Terrifying and Hilarious". Dork. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

[VerifBreak-2] Rindner, Grant. "Kurt Vile Breaks Down "Loading Zones" on Genius' Series 'Verified'". Genius. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

[3] Dolan, Joe (August 16, 2018). "Song You Need to Know: Kurt Vile 'Loading Zones'". Retrieved October 13, 2018.

[4] Reese, Nathan (August 16, 2018). "Loading Zones by Kurt Vile Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

[Pitchfork-5] Bloom, Madison (August 16, 2018). "Kurt Vile Returns With New Song 'Loading Zones': Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 13, 2018.

[6] McKenna, Lindsey (August 16, 2018). "Kurt Vile Parks For Free In 'Loading Zones'". NPR. Retrieved August 29, 2018.

[7] Schatz, Lake (August 16, 2018). "Kurt Vile Returns with "Loading Zones", his First New Song in Three Years: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

[sc_Flanders_Tip_Kurt_Vile-8] "Kurt Vile – Loading Zones" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 13, 2018.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_Kurt_Vile-9] "Kurt Vile Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2018.

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v t e Kurt Vile
Jesse Trbovich Rob Laakso Kyle Spence Adam Granduciel
Studio albums	Constant Hitmaker God Is Saying This to You... Childish Prodigy Smoke Ring for My Halo Wakin on a Pretty Daze B'lieve I'm Goin Down... Lotta Sea Lice Bottle It In Watch My Moves
EPs	The Hunchback Square Shells So Outta Reach It's a Big World Out There (And I Am Scared) Back to Moon Beach
Singles	"He's Alright" "Pretty Pimpin" "Loading Zones"
Related articles	The War on Drugs Sore Eros Swirlies Harvey Milk Priestess Courtney Barnett

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