Too many singer/songwriters indulge in the pleasure of economy.
The hushed tones and nascent hum of an acoustic guitar are well and
fine, but they no longer make for compelling theater. Sure, every
once in a while some prodigy gets lucky (ahem, Bob Dylan, Neil
Young, etc.), but for the most part, an over-reliance on simplicity
for the sake of some sort of natural state has led to boring, tepid
music.

Fortunately, John Vanderslice throws down at the other end of
the spectrum. The rare songwriter who has logged more time pushing
faders than re-hashing a C-G chord progression, Vanderslice
saturates his creations with pulsing electronic rhythms, horns,
strings, keyboards and the kitchen sink. All this is not to say
that Vanderslice, who has been releasing solo records since 2000,
is some unknown entity. His songs don"t sound out of place, just
dense, and Cellar Door, his latest, is no exception.

Vanderslice"s head may sit in front of the mixing board, but
there"s no denying that his heart is steeped with classic pop: Todd
Rundgren and Roxy Music are convenient touchstones, but
Vanderslice, to his credit, has crafted a unique, if vaguely
familiar, sound. The tip-toe balladry of 'Wild Strawberries' is
slight and lovely, and the warm thump of 'When It Hits My Blood'
carries the 1970"s drug-song torch through sweet harmonies.
'Promising Actress' is a clear highlight, adding a gorgeous chorus
to some of Vanderslice"s best lyrics.

Elsewhere, Vanderslice shows his talents as a producer, to mixed
effect. 'Pale Horse' benefits from fuzzy drums and winding guitars,
but 'Up Above the Sea,' despite some pretty organ breaks, can"t
overcome its heavy-handed electronic rhythms. 'Heated Pool and Bar'
struts along mightily on makeshift percussion, and 'My Family Tree'
supplants a slow beginning with an optimistic rush of affected
guitars and slashing strings. However, 'Coming and Going on Easy
Terms' shifts too frequently, often into melodramatic keyboard
bursts.

On Cellar Door, Vanderslice further solidifies his
reputation as a master craftsman, but his penchant for excess could
probably use a bit of editing. For all of its strengths, the record
occasionally suffers both from ill-advised experiments and from a
monotony of tempo and tone. A bit of help could turn Cellar
Door, already an intriguing and fulfilling listen, into a true
work of art.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.