Mass Suicide Occult Figurines

This solo CD from former MK Ultra singer-guitarist John Vanderslice boasts one of the best album titles this year. It's also an inventive gem that ranges easily from the synthesizer-infused layers of "Confusion Boats" to the spare voice-and-piano musings of "Gruesome Details" without breaking a sweat. Ambient backgrounds blend with tidy spates of guitar distortion and sly, smart choruses, imbuing even the notorious "Bill Gates Must Die'' with a sense of purpose that matches its playful chutzpah. "Mass Suicide Occult Figurines" shows how far indie-rock conventions can be warped without losing their edge. --SF Chronicle