Life and Death of an American Fourtracker [Bonus Track]

Personnel includes: John Vnderslice (vocals); Ben Barnett (guitar, bass); Thomas Heyman (pedal steel guitar); Tony Cross (violin); Zoe Keating (cello); Bill Swann (trumpet); Alex Nahas (bass); Gavin Foster, Jim Eno (drums, percussion).
Engineers include: Scott Solter, John Croslin, John Vanderslice.
Recorded at Tiny Telephone Studio, San Franciso, California between January and December 2001.
With three records in just two years, John Vanderslice is already proving himself to be a prolific songwriter who can put together an admirable concept record. Like Time Travel Is Lonely, The Life and Death of an American Fourtracker tells a story of solitude and, ultimately, the downfall of its protagonist. A boy obsessed with producing home recordings may not sound as sad as someone stuck in Antarctica without communication, but through Vanderslice's lyrics and wonderful arrangements, a powerful misfortune emerges. With help once again from indie rock friends such as Spoon, Death Cab for Cutie, and Beulah, he shows a developing interest in peculiar sounds as well as chamber pop, most notably on "The Mansion," which blossoms into a jubilant chorus. The examination of a recording device in "Me and My 424" establishes a sense that this genuine tale isn't too far from being autobiographical. And given Vanderslice's number of hours spent in his Tiny Telephone studio, it wouldn't be a surprise. ~ Kenyon Hopkin