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.
Promising Actress
John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The story is clear of distortions and tears and you'll know why
we're on mulholland drive
Can you survive a look inside?
like a bomb in reverse, fragments of truth return:
The money's been paid out, the key's on the table
yes I agree now, her story's a hoax
Recorded impulses laid, dubbed and cross faded,
It's just light replayed
still I ended on mulholland drive
Can you survive a look inside?
yes I can see now, they had nothing to do with a role refused
And sometimes a cowboy's just a man in a cowboy suit
The lyrics of John Vanderslice's song "Promising Actress" provide an insightful commentary on the darker side of Hollywood and the tragic fate of aspiring actresses who are allured by the promise of fame and fortune. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the grim narrative that unfolds, as the singer prepares to commit a heinous act in the seconds before pulling the trigger. The reference to "safety unlocks" and "the shot" suggests that she is about to shoot someone - possibly her agent or a casting director who has wronged her in some way. However, the lyrics also suggest that this act of violence is driven by a sense of betrayal and disillusionment, as the singer has come to realize that the glamour and glitz of Hollywood comes at a steep price.
As the song progresses, we learn that the singer is on Mulholland Drive, one of the most iconic locations in Hollywood, known for its winding roads and scenic views. The line "Can you survive a look inside?" suggests that she has glimpsed the seedy underbelly of the film industry and is now grappling with the brutal reality of her situation. The middle section of the song reveals that the singer has been involved in a sinister conspiracy, which involves the payment of money to someone and the killing of someone she used to love. The fragmented nature of the lyrics suggests that the singer is struggling to come to terms with the truth and is plagued by guilt and regret.
As the song draws to a close, the singer acknowledges that her story is a "hoax" and that the impulses that drove her to commit such a heinous act were merely "recorded" and "replayed". However, she is still haunted by the events that took place on Mulholland Drive and the fact that she was willing to do whatever it takes to achieve her dreams of stardom.
Overall, "Promising Actress" is a haunting and deeply affecting song that provides an incisive commentary on the dark side of Hollywood and the toll that fame and fortune can take on those who seek it. The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and powerful metaphors that paint a harrowing picture of a world that is all too often filled with exploitation, disillusionment, and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
In the seconds between the safety unlocks and the shot,
The moment of truth is just about to arrive and everything will become clear.
The story is clear of distortions and tears and you'll know why
The truth will be revealed and all the lies and tears will be put to rest.
we're on mulholland drive
This is where everything has led us to, where the final revelation will take place.
Can you survive a look inside?
Are you ready to face the truth and the consequences that come with it?
like a bomb in reverse, fragments of truth return:
The pieces of the puzzle are coming together, revealing the truth in reverse.
The money's been paid out, the key's on the table
The bribe has been given and the deal has been sealed.
You've killed someone you used to love
The ultimate betrayal has taken place and someone dear has been taken away.
yes I agree now, her story's a hoax
The lies have been exposed and the truth is finally being acknowledged.
Recorded impulses laid, dubbed and cross faded,
The story has been fabricated, edited and manipulated to suit a certain narrative.
It's just light replayed
The reality is not as it seems, and what we're seeing is just a trick of the light.
still I ended on mulholland drive
Even with the knowledge of the truth, we're still left with the same questions and uncertainties.
Can you survive a look inside?
The question is asked again, as if to challenge the listener one last time.
yes I can see now, they had nothing to do with a role refused
The truth is finally revealed, and those who were blamed were innocent all along.
And sometimes a cowboy's just a man in a cowboy suit
Things are not always what they seem, and sometimes simple things are just that - simple.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: John Vanderslice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind