(part 611 in a 1001 part series)
The first thing I listen for when I put on a new John Vanderslice album is the production. Sure Vanderslice is a great songwriter, great arranger and all that, but his sense of crisp pop production is phenomenal… he’s one of the best out there. Vanderslice’s new album Romanian Names — his first on Dead Oceans, after six on Barsuk — very well could be his best. It’s full of catchy melodies, swirling analog synths and computerized beats and yet still fairly melancholy.
This song here really reminds me of a great band we haven’t heard from in a long time, Flotation Toy Warning.*
“D.I.A.L.O.” by John Vanderslice
[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/HelloShuffle/bestsongallday/JohnVanderslice_DIALO.mp3]*Note: This is NOT, as our very own Aryn Crowley thought, Flotation Toy Warning, but John Vanderslice. The song just had certain qualities that reminded of the other band. For those who did love Flotation Toy Warning’s 2004 album, they reportedly are set to finally release a followup later in 2009.