Time Travel Is Lonely
John Vanderslice · 2001
34 min · 13 tracks · alternative rock
An introspective blend of lo-fi instrumentation and emotive storytelling that drifts through themes of nostalgia and existential longing.
Top tracks — play these first
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You Were My Fiji — Opening the album with a vivid portrayal of lost innocence, this track sets the tone for the reflective journey that follows.
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Time Travel Is Lonely — The title track encapsulates the album's central theme of yearning for connection across time and space, blending poignant lyrics with haunting melodies.
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Everything Changed — This track showcases Vanderslice's knack for storytelling, using a stark contrast between instrumentation and lyrical content to convey moments of profound realization.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's unique sound and introspective lyrics contribute to its distinctiveness within alternative rock.
What we noticed
- Tracks often employ a lo-fi aesthetic with layered instrumentation, creating a sense of intimacy and warmth.
- Many songs utilize unconventional song structures, with shifts in dynamics and tempo that enhance the emotive storytelling.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- introspective melodies for contemplation
- poignant moments of nostalgia
- delicate soundscapes for solitude
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy tracks
- prefer long, sprawling albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on June 12, 2001, Time Travel Is Lonely was John Vanderslice's third studio album, following his breakthrough record, 1999's Mass Suicide Occult Figurines. At this point in his career, Vanderslice was honing his distinct sound and lyrical style, solidifying his place within the indie rock scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Sufjan Stevens· The Decemberists· Iron & Wine
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 You Were My Fiji 2:10
- 2 Keep the Dream Alive 3:39
- 3 Little Boy Lost 1:41
- 4 Interlude 1 0:35
- 5 Everything Changed 2:16
- 6 My Old Flame 4:13
- 7 Interlude 3 0:55
- 8 Time Travel Is Lonely 3:35
- 9 If I Live or If I Die 2:30
- 10 Emma Pearl 3:09
- 11 Interlude 2 1:49
- 12 Do You Remember? 3:39
- 13 Gainesville, Fla 4:08
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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