Earlier this month, I began exploring former Wilco member Jay Bennett’s solo work and followed the drama surrounding the lawsuit he had filed against Jeff Tweedy. That’s why I was so stunned when I came online last night and learned that Bennett had passed away in his sleep at the age of 45. I was just beginning to understand the tremendous role that Bennett played in the conception of Wilco’s most vital albums. It saddens me that prior to this all I knew of Bennett was that he was kicked out of Wilco and that there was a lot of controversy regarding how he was portrayed in the 2002 documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart. Regardless of what the cause of Bennett’s death ends up being revealed as, it is obvious that another rare talent is gone. One listen to Bennett’s work with Wilco or his haunting 2008 online release Whatever Happened I Apologize is all the proof that is needed.

• Recommended: Rock Proper – Farewell To Our Mentor

• Artist: John Vanderslice
• Album: Romanian Names
• Label: Dead Oceans
• Release: 2009
• Links: Official Site, MySpace

After proclaiming John Vanderslice to be one of the decade’s best songwriters, I had hoped that he would be able to continue the incredible streak that he began with Cellar Door (2004) and continued with Pixel Revolt (2005) and Emerald City (2007). In the back of my head though, I knew this would be a difficult and perhaps unrealistic task. Vanderslice is back with Romanian Names, his seventh full length effort and first for the Austin, Texas label Dead Oceans. On Romanian Names, Vanderslice has turned to a compact approach with many of the songs coming in at under the three minute mark. This isn’t troubling per se, but the album’s ambiguous nature and inability to captivate like previous Vanderslice recordings is a concern.

Just about every Vanderslice release gets off to a great start and Romanian Names is no exception. The pairing of “Tremble And Tear” and “Fetal Horses” is excellent and I look forward to hearing both songs in a live setting. Equally impressive is “Too Much Time,” which could have been one of his finest compositions if it had just a bit more flair. That point alludes to my main complaint with the album: many of the arrangements are simply too light. On the other hand though, this isn’t such a bad thing at times. “Sunken Union Boat” is another highlight and the stripped-down title track is as devastating as it is brief. Still, there are moments such as “Summer Stock,” a track that I am confident is among Vanderslice’s worst.

I could be terribly wrong, but I don’t get the impression that this was a challenging album to record. Maybe that’s a testament to how talented Vanderslice and producer Scott Solter are. Carefree sessions can yield fantastic results, but Romanian Names feels too amicable in comparison to Vanderslice’s last three outings. As a whole, it isn’t as memorable and that’s really what it comes down to. There are songs on Romanian Names that Vanderslice should be proud of, but the bottom line is that it fits into my pocket too nicely. I still stand by the statement I referred to at the beginning of this review, but I wouldn’t use Romanian Names as exhibit A in my defense.

Romanian Names is out now and John Vanderslice is currently on tour. He will appear at the Black Cat on June 16th with The Tallest Man On Earth. I am looking forward to that pairing.

Shortly before the eighth anniversary of their self-titled debut, Circulatory System will release its long-awaited follow-up, Signal Morning. Circulatory System is the group that Will Cullen Hart started when The Olivia Tremor Control broke up. The new album, which will be released on August 4th by Cloud Recordings, will feature appearances from every member of The Olivia Tremor Control, including Bill Doss. Jeff Mangum, who appeared on Circulatory System’s first album and scattered recordings by OTC, will return once again. Mangum’s Neutral Milk Hotel bandmate Julian Koster also guests on the record. A tour to accompany the release of Signal Morning is in the works as well.

Photo by Kelly Ruberto. Thanks to Team Clermont for the heads-up.

Signal Morning

Side One
1. Woodpecker Greeting Worker Ant
2. Rocks and Stones
3. This Morning (We Remembered Everything)
4. Tiny Concerts
5. Electronic Diversion
6. Overjoyed
7. The Breathing Universe
8. New From The Heavenly Loom
9. The Spinning Continuous

Side Two
10. I You We
11. Blasting Through
12. Solid Forms Dissolving
13. Gold Will Stay
14. The Frozen Lake / The Symmetry
15. Until Moon Medium Hears The Message
16. (Drifts)
17. Signal Morning