Cellar Door (Reissue)

VINYL FORMAT. John Vanderslice's fourth album cemented his position as a notable figure in the early 2000s indie rock underground, after a notorious earlier single, "Bill Gates Must Die," came close to tagging him forever as a snarky one-semi-hit-wonder. Dialing back on the ornate (some might argue overstuffed) arrangements of his previous albums, Vanderslice puts the focus on his emotionally affecting lyrics and understated but powerful vocals throughout. Highlights include "They Won't Let Me Run" and "Promising Actress."