Every now and then I come across an album that I love so much, it’s impossible to pick just one song to write about. This is the case with the new album from musician and studio engineer John Vanderslice. Pixel Revolt is the equivalent to a kaleidoscope for the ears.

Vanderslice owns Tiny Telephone, a 1,700-square-foot studio that’s been dubbed, by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, “Best Studio to Record Your Indie Masterpiece.” He works alongside some of the best engineers working today, including including Scott Solter (Spoon, Court and Spark), Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla (Hot Hot Heat, Nada Surf), Shellac’s Bob Weston (Idlewild, Sebadoh), and Steve Fisk (Unwound, Low).

This record is the first that Vanderslice started writing less and less in his usual far-flung narratives and instead wrote more autobiographical lyrics. You won’t necessarily find any chorus - verse - chorus easily digested pop on this album, but instead intricately developed songs with poetic lyrics and multi-level meanings. This is the reason why I think I’m a terrible music writer, I can tell you a story, be clever, make you laugh, but I can’t adequately relate the weight I feel when I listen to certain music. It’s all so subjective. This record isn’t gonna get played on the radio, so I added it to mine so you can hear it for yourself. Click on my head.

If you like it, check the John Vanderslice Website for an MP3 of Trance Manual.

This record will be released on Barsuk Records August 23rd.

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