Wagonwheel Blues

”Wagonwheel Blues” marks the debut album by the American indie rock band the War on Drugs, released on 19 June 2008, under Secretly Canadian. It represents a collaboration primarily between founding members Adam Granduciel and Kurt Vile, and stands as the sole studio album featuring contributions from drummer Kyle Lloyd.

Regarding the album’s genesis, vocalist and guitarist Adam Granduciel reflected that each song “spans over the last six-to-seven years,” with various sounds compiled from recordings dating back over eight years. These recordings encompass a range of sources, including cassettes, MiniDiscs, samplers, and rough mixes run through amplifiers. Despite this diverse sonic landscape, Granduciel emphasised the freshness and vitality of the performances captured on the album.