John Vanderslice Pixel Revolt Soundtrack CD

San Francisco singer/songwriter/producer John Vanderslice sticks to his anything-goes indie-pop sound on 2005's ambitious PIXEL REVOLT, a record that reportedly began as a concept album about the war in Iraq, but evolved into a much more personal project. As always, the plaintive-voiced Vanderslice employs unusual arrangements and a wide variety of instrumentation (including mellotron, Moog, glockenspiel, and an array of electronics), with the distinctive cello-playing of Erik Friedlander featured on a number of tracks. Although Vanderslice's reach can exceed his grasp, he's a fascinating performer who never fails to turn out intriguing work, and PIXEL REVOLT is no exception.

Lyricist: John Darnielle.

Personnel: John Vanderslice (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer); John Vanderslice (vocals); Scott Solter (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, E-bow, organ, Wurlitzer organ, vibraphone, drums, steel drum, tom tom, percussion, bells, loops, tapes); Bill Rousseau (electric guitar); Matt Greenberg, Matthew Greenberg (trumpet); Matt Henry Cunitz (celesta, Hammond b-3 organ, Mellotron, bass guitar); Dave Douglas (glockenspiel, drums, congas, timpani, crotales); Keith Cary (upright bass); Rob Douglas (bass guitar); David Douglas, John Hofer (drums); Erik Friedlander (cello); Alex DeCarville (drums).

Audio Mixer: Scott Solter.

Recording information: 15th St; Tiny Telephone.

Editor: John Darnielle.Entertainment Weekly (No. 837, p.79) - "...[A] relatively warm, easy-to-embrace effort...." - Grade: B
Magnet (p.111) - "[A] collection of delicate songs that set personal revelations against warm guitars, string embellishments and waves of vintage organ."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.131) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Vanderslice mines the analogue recording studio for all its sonic worth, his lavishly detailed songs sounding intimate, experimental and ornate."