As heirs apparent to the throne of '90s alt-rock,
Kurt Vile
and
Courtney Barnett
appear to be an ideal match -- comrades in slacktivism united by a shrug and a smirk. If neither singer/songwriter sounds precisely like the other, they're good complements, both cherishing laconic melodies, loping rhythms, and a loads of guitar. All of these elements are in play on
Lotta Sea Lice
, a rambling nine-song affair that finds the duo singing each other's songs, playing tunes penned by friends, and covering
Belly
's "Untogether," an underappreciated '90s cult classic that the band once played as a duet with
Radiohead
's
Thom Yorke
.
Barnett
Vile
do not bring to mind
Yorke
Tanya Donelly
, nor do they sound a thing like the original
Kurt
Courtney
of
Nirvana
Hole
fame. Singing together,
evoke
J Mascis
Liz Phair
, comparisons that have been leveled against the individual rockers before, but on this lazy stroll of an LP, it appears the pair are indulging in alt-rock cosplay. It doesn't help matters that when they indulge in an explicit duet, they often veer toward the cutesy, as on "Continental Breakfast," where they puff up their international friendship over the titular meal. Usually, though,
just settles into a cozy rustic groove that dispenses with any of the coiled energy of
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit.
and opts for
's cheery stoner strumming. As they're both charismatic singers with a way with an elliptical melody, it's pleasant. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine