Customer Reviews

Life & Death of an American Fourtracker

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Vanderslice is one of the more exciting fixtures of the increasingly obvious indie scene. Striking a stance between guitars and synths, hi and lo-fi, and directness and obtuseness, Life and Death is engaging series of songs centering on the trials and tribulations of a washed up four-tracker.

In my opinion, this is a step down from the completely sublime Time Travel is Lonely. The ratio of great songs to just ok songs
is defintely slanted towards the latter. But compared to other albums in the neo-singer/songwriter mold, it is a substantial work.

My problem with the album is the trivial instrumental interludes, 4# & 5# and minor tracks like the John Darnielle co-written Nikki oh Nikki which sandbag much of the album's forward motion. Not awful just seem more like exercises than songs. These instances make this more of an album I have to be in the mood to hear than mandatory daily listening.

This said songs like "Underneath The Leaves", "The Mansion", and "Amitriptyline" envelop the listener in their prog rock flecked Pavement/Elephant 6 informed indie pop and deliver both catchiness and content. (I just have to also mention "Me and My 424", a great statement of purpose on par with Eno's The True Wheel.) Anyone who can adapt Blake to music (Fiend in a Cloud) without looking pretentious or foolish deserves all the attention they can get.

I would just suggest "Time Travel is Lonely" as a better starting point for the novice listener. The songs supporting its central concept are just stronger.

While admitedly, John Vanderslice's second album, "Time Travel is Lonely" is his best release, Life and Death of an American Fourtracker is by no means small potatoes. In fact, while it may be somewhat inferior to J.V.'s 2001 release, it is still far more superior to many, many other albums.

Again, as with "Time Travel" J.V. gives us another concept album. When I first listened to it, something reminded me of Pink Floyd's "The Wall." I couldn't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps the mix of guitar and synth. I wasn't really sure, but it has a similar feel. When I finally learned the "story" behind the album (the true tale a young artist's - who once dated John's sister - descent into maddness) the similarity to "The Wall" became even stronger. Like other "concept albums" this release works more as a whole rather than as individual songs. Its hard to pick out that stand out "radio hit" (even if its a college radio hit) type single. The album works as a single unit, flowing together as a cohesive whole to tell the complicated story.

I truly believe that John Vanderslice is probably one of the best song writers and performers out there. Seeing him live made my life. And self-absorbed? I think not. He has a reputation for being one of the nicest rockers out there. If you've ever seen him live you would know what an amazing down to earth guy he is. I'm anxiously awaiting his most recent release due this winter.....

John Vanderslice originally came to me via a good friend. This CD has turned my good friend into my best friend. This album is stark yet gushes with emotion. It measures up well against Mr. Vanderslice's previous releases. Though the album is not a masterpiece, it is quite consistent. It receives four stars only so we may anticipate an even better release next time. Highly recommended tracks include: Cool Purple Mist, Me and My 424, Underneath the Leaves and Amitriptyline.

I've listened to this record about 400 times and it stands up in every way to last year's brilliant "time travel." great lyrics, amazing recording, a must have for anyone interested in credible indie music. RIYL: flaming lips, wilco, beulah, radiohead.

I've listened to this record about 400 times already. it stands up as well as last year's fantastic "time travel is lonely," mr vanderslice's previous record. this guy is going to end up a cult hero.

i'll admit, i had never heard of john vanderslice until i saw him open for beulah. to my surprise, after talking to a few people, most people were there to see him instead of the headliner. anyway, after getting kicked out of the club (oops), john saw my sister and me hanging outside, and he offered to get me back in, if possible. what a nice guy! i was really amazed by how amiable he was to two strangers. even though he didn't get us back in, when he saw me by the bar, he gave me a big smile and said it was nice to see me again.

my apologies that this isn't a music review, but i just wanted to say how nice john is.

this is a great album! it's really fun and funny in spots! I love John Vanderslice!

Where do they find these reviewers:"... William Blake, whose poetry on the pain of existence is used as a framing device." Has this person ever read Blake? I hope Vanderslice has.

self absorbed nerd rock is what i call it. no energy, no soul, no point. what does john vanderslice know about anything? boo-hoo. sorry guys, don't believe the hype.

a sloppy mess of an album. and short, too, with repeats and fillers. but oh, how joyful a thing it is. there's a duck or a goose running around squawking in excitement -- i'm not sure what he's saying as I don't speak duck or goose or whatever but five'll get you ten (you're going to die) it's something along the lines of "wow! this is good stuff! whoda thunk it?" it also raises that age old question: how many guests can you crowd on to an album and still call it one man's album? who is this john vanderslice anyway? a conduit, i say. not counting the duck, there's how many guest appearances on this album? and then there are the ghosts -- wm. blake, obviously, who was kind enough to write the lyrics for track 1 and track 9. and i swear I sense the ghost of Elliot Smith, may his soul rest in peace, on Greyhound, buddying up to WB Yeats (the best lack all conviction, while the worst/are full of passionate intensity.)

nikki oh nikki is the song i wake up in the middle of the night to find myself singing... my roommate just started sleeping on the couch, i guess hearing "he's going to die" while laying in the dark and cold was a bit much for him. It's a bit much for me; no one should be able to write such slow, sloppy, weird song that so utterly get under your skin, under your organs, into the cords of your being.

I don't really buy it as a concept album. They're a bunch of songs about imbalance, losing love, disillusionment, things gone wrong. So's every Everclear record. Doesn't make it conceptual. Good thing it's better than Everclear.

please, good sir, bring me some more. mikee likee.