Wagonwheel Blues
Wagonwheel Blues is the debut album by American indie rock band the War on Drugs, released on June 19, 2008, on Secretly Canadian. Primarily a collaboration between founding members Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile, it is the only studio album to feature contributions from drummer Kyle Lloyd.
Background and recording
Upon the album's release, vocalist and guitarist Adam Granduciel noted that the album's songs "each have their own little time frame spanning over the last six-to-seven years." Granduciel elaborated, "There are sounds on these songs from over eight years of home recording; bits and pieces here and there, dumped from cassettes, MiniDiscs, samplers, rough mixes run through amps and sampled, but most importantly all the performances are fresh and invigorating."Critical reception
The album received generally positive reviews.Personnel
Per the album liner notes:The War on Drugs
- Adam Granduciel – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, harmonica, drums, organs, samplers, Rhodes, MS16, piano
- Kurt Vile – electric and acoustic 12-string guitars, lead Jazzmaster, vocals, OB-8, Wurlitzer, trumpet, piano
- David Hartley – electric bass
- Kyle Lloyd – drums and percussion
Additional musicians
- Paul Cobb – left and right drums
- Ryan Cobb – sweep guitar
Recording personnel
- Adam Granduciel – producer; recording and mixing
- Kurt Vile – producer
- Jeff Zeigler – producer; recording and mixing
- Ryan Cobb – recording ; mixing
- Paul Cobb – recording ; mixing
- Brian McTear – mixing
- Michael Johnson – additional engineering
- Kyle Lloyd – additional engineering
- John Martin – amplifier preparation
Artwork
- Adam Granduciel – SX-70 photos
- Daniel Murphy – art direction, layout