#24
Chad VanGaalen: “Wandering Spirits”
[from Diaper Island / Sub Pop] 

In a more fair and balanced world, Chad VanGaalen would receive just as many accolades and record sales as someone like Adele. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that blissful world. Instead we inhabit an existence where VanGaalen’s music goes relatively unnoticed and shows like Bored To Death are just cancelled for no apparent reason. 

It would be difficult to say that Diaper Island is VanGaalen’s best effort given that each and every full-length and EP he’s released garners the same distinctly tempered and melodic sound that makes his music so enjoyable. “Wandering Spirits” is a study in desperation and solitude made even more tangible with each progressive squeak of Van Gaalen’s fingers across the strings of his guitar.