Before I tell you how much I
love the new John Vanderslice I want to let you know that Live Free Or
Die Hard is worth your time. It's not as good as the original but
outside of one blatantly stupid plane sequence it's a nice entry into the
series and one of the better flicks this summer. Now, onto Mr.
Vanderslice and his new album, Emerald City, that was apparently
fueled by an era of deep insecurity and paranoia. I kind of think
that sounds a little overly hardcore, but since the period originated from
the guy having to jump through a bazillion legal hoops to try, and
ultimately fail, at obtaining a visa for his girlfriend during the time he
was writing, I can't say it doesn't make sense. July 24 marks the day
you can expect to see the Barsuk effort on store shelves. Enjoy.
:John
Vanderslice - White Dove:
The thunderous, tension filled intro to this track should be enough of an
indication to you that this is a guy with a lot on his mind. It's not
just a couple of small issues either, as John doesn't just relegate his
angst to the beginning. He keeps it going for the entire run time with
relentless guitar work, raw drumming and lyrics that deal with the
unsettling matter of getting to know someone who has lost a child.
This certainly isn't meant to brighten your day, but I think music with some
weight behind it should always be welcomed with open arms.
Below is the
video for John's Exodus Damage, which is from the
album Pixel Revolt. The piece is mostly just a
bunch of distorted images, but it works well with the
introspective content of the lyrics.
-
John Laird -
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