Merge has reissued the self-titled debut album by Crooked Fingers, the solo project of Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann. Originally released in 2000, Crooked Fingers—a.k.a. “the one with the swan on it”—is being pressed on vinyl for the first time and includes a download of the entire record plus nine bonus tracks of demos and rarities.

To mark the occasion of the reissue, we asked Josh Modell of The A.V. Club to write new liner notes for the album. Here is an excerpt:

Not long after he recorded this debut, Eric told me that he wanted Crooked Fingers to constantly evolve—that every record would sound different, and every tour would feature different players and new arrangements. He’s kept to that, releasing albums that constantly tug and question, restless but preternaturally consistent. What you’re holding represents the first step, a big, quiet leap into the unknown—which ended up being a beautiful place.

Crooked Fingers bonus tracks:

1. Our New Favorite (1998 4­-Track Cassette Demo)
2. Crowned in Chrome (1998 4-­Track Cassette Demo)
3. New Drink for the Old Drunk (1998 4­-Track Cassette Demo)
4. Pigeon Kicker (1998 4-­Track Cassette Demo)
5. Broken Man (1998 4­-Track Cassette Demo)
6. Black Black Ocean (1998 4­-Track Cassette Demo) 
7. A Little Bleeding (1998 4­-Track Cassette Demo)
8. Atchafalayan Death Waltz (from the Sub Pop single)
9. Red Devil Dawn (from a self­-released 7”)