After mk Ultra broke up in 1999, Vanderslice wasted little time building a solo reputation. In 2000, he gained national media attention over his single Bill Gates Must Die after concocting an elaborate hoax in which Microsoft supposedly threatened legal action over supposed trademark violations (the disc had a similar etching to a Windows installation disc).
Subsequent albums, Time Travel is Lonely, Life and Death of an American Fourtracker, Cellar Door, Pixel Revolt and Emerald City have gained critical acclaim for their melodic quality and sophisticated narrative lyrical content. Vanderslice has spent much of the last few years on tour across North America, Europe, and Japan.
Vanderslice also founded a recording studio in 1997 called Tiny Telephone. Located in the Mission District of San Francisco, Tiny Telephone has carved out a niche as the last all-analog recording studio in the Bay Area, and has a policy of setting recording rates under market prices. Bands who have used Vanderslice's studio include Beulah, Death Cab for Cutie, Okkervil River and Spoon.
Vanderslice is a proponent of using analog instruments and recording equipment to produce a richer, more raw sound which he has sometimes called "dirty hi-fi". He has collaborated closely with Scott Solter in the production of his recent albums, with Pixel Revolt being notably shaped by Solter.
Vanderslice was a contributing producer on the Spoon album, Gimme Fiction, and has collaborated and toured with The Mountain Goats. He is strongly influenced by film and is a fan of David Lynch, whose work is referenced in his song "Promising Actress". His declared musical influences are diverse, ranging from Neutral Milk Hotel to Public Enemy. He is an avid photography hobbyist. He has incorporated the poetry of William Blake and Robert Lowell into his music.
Several songs on the album Pixel Revolt referenced the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent global political situation. This is also true of Vanderslice's most recent album, Emerald City.
Oblivion
John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
mechanical pencil filled with lead
I took a shot It's all she got
I took a knock It's everything she got
forgive me I'm ready to live
until then I'm defending again
it's how I owned oblivion
never stop
never ever stop
It's four p.m. bad shit is closing in
put the stereo on boost the top end
can't write a song strap the capo on
can't close the deal
play Defender until dawn
forgive me I'm ready to live
until then I'm defending again
it's how I owned oblivion
forget me not or i'll never stop
never stop
never ever stop
The lyrics of John Vanderslice's song Oblivion describe a person who has suffered physical and emotional pain but has found a way to cope with it by immersing themselves in music and video games. The first verse describes how the person has suffered a head injury, possibly self-inflicted, with a mechanical pencil filled with lead. They also mention taking a shot, which could be interpreted as alcohol or drugs. Despite this, the person is ready to live and defend themselves against whatever life throws at them. They've found a way to own oblivion, suggesting that they've turned their pain into something they can control.
In the second verse, the person describes the desperation they feel as bad things close in around them. They turn to music to help them cope, turning up the volume to drown out their thoughts. They also mention playing Defender, a classic video game where the player controls a spaceship defending against waves of enemy ships. The person is unable to write a song or close a deal, but they can play Defender until dawn. Again, the person emphasizes their readiness to live and defend themselves.
Overall, the lyrics of Oblivion convey a sense of struggling with pain and finding a way to cope through music and gaming. The repeated refrain of "never stop" suggests that the person is determined to keep going, no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
I took a blow to the head
I suffered an injury to my head
mechanical pencil filled with lead
Someone caused the injury by attacking me with a mechanical pencil filled with lead
I took a shot It's all she got
Someone tried to hurt me, but they didn't have the strength to do more than take one shot
I took a knock It's everything she got
Someone tried to hurt me again, but this time it hurt a lot and they gave it everything they had
forgive me I'm ready to live
I'm sorry for my mistakes in the past, and I'm now willing to embrace life
until then I'm defending again
Until I'm truly ready to live, I'll keep protecting myself from harm
it's how I owned oblivion
By constantly defending myself, I've been able to avoid falling into oblivion
forget me not or I'll never stop
Please remember me and my struggles, or I won't be able to move on from them
never stop
I'll keep going despite the challenges
never ever stop
I'm determined to persevere no matter what
It's four p.m. bad shit is closing in
I'm feeling overwhelmed by negative things happening around me
put the stereo on boost the top end
I'm trying to distract myself from my problems by listening to music at a high volume
can't write a song strap the capo on
I'm struggling with writer's block, but I'm still trying to create something by using a capo to change the sound of my guitar
can't close the deal
I'm having trouble succeeding in my endeavors
play Defender until dawn
I'm going to keep playing video games all night to escape my problems
Contributed by Carter C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.