Romanian Names

The follow-up to John Vanderslice's politically charged 2007 outing, EMERALD CITY, ROMANIAN NAMES finds the indie-pop singer-songwriter in a more laid-back, romantic mood. The album also marks Vanderslice's first outing on the Dead Oceans label, after a long stint with Barsuk Records, another sign that change is afoot for the performer. Filled with swooning synth-heavy tunes (see the gleaming "Fetal Horses" and the breezy "C&O Canal"), Vanderslice occasionally goes for a more organic sound, as on the folk-tinged title track and the gorgeous, piano-led "Carina Constellation," resulting in a record that plays to the artist's strengths even as it begins a new chapter in his career.