John Vanderslice has done quite a lot in his decade long music career, everything from hanging with The Mountain Goats and making Bill Gates death songs to collaborating with orchestras and releasing lots of critically acclaimed, six to be exact.
So, when the first line of the press release announcing Romanian Names, the Florida native’s seventh full-length effort by saying “its his best record to date” it definitely peaks one’s attention. While this statement won’t be verified until the album is released on June 9th via Dead Oceans, it certainly appears as if Vanderslice did all he could to make the 12-track effort the very best he has to offer.
Recorded famed San Francisco recording studio, Tiny Telephone, Romanian Names sees Vanderslice putting the emphasis on the melody and structure, resulting in a record described as “subtle” and “lush,” with a with a “lyrical approach less concerned with narrative and cohesion than previous [Vanderslice] records, leading to a new tone that feels self-assured, natural, and unafraid.” Ok, so it might be more press release rhetoric, the album’s recently revealed first single, “Fetal Horses”, does give some credence to the description…
…so maybe they ain’t lying when saying this is Vanderslice’s best record to date. We shall see.
Check Out:
“Fetal Horses”
Romanian Names Tracklist:
01. Tremble And Tear
02. Fetal Horses
03. C&O Canal
04. Too Much Time
05. D.I.A.L.O.
06. Forest Knolls
07. Oblivion
08. Sunken Union Boat
09. Romanian Names
10. Carina Constellation
11. Summer Stock
12. Hard Times
John Vanderslice 2009 Tour Dates:
05/17 – Merced, CA @ The Partisan *
05/19 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
05/21 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
05/22 – Seattle, WA @ Early Street Records (FREE)
05/27 – Provo, UT @ Velour *
05/28 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
05/29 – Denver, CO @ High Dive *
05/30 – Omaha, NE @ Slow Down
06/06 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
06/09 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Warhol Museum
06/12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* = w/ The Morning Benders
