Sic Semper Tyrannis

The Sophtware Slump by Grandaddy (2000)

A Random CD Review from the Stutzman Memorial Library

The Sophtware Slump by Grandaddy (2000)

I don't know much about the band Grandaddy, other than the fact that the singer's name is Jason Lytle and that they are now defunct. I must have bought this CD based on a review, but I must say that I like it a lot. One thing this band has (had) going for them was melodies. Catchy melodies. The kinds of melodies that make you feel warm all over. Another thing that this album has going for it is a flair for the epic. There are all kinds of vintage synthy bloops and whooshes that serve as the icing on the indie rock cake. I will say that at times, this album sounds like a Flaming Lips tribute band, but in the grand scheme of things, there are worse musical thefts. Like, say, a Menudo tribute band or...a Debby Boone tribute.

Anyway, I digress.

So, as I was saying, you have these very well-crafted song structures, interesting arrangements and sprawling instrumentation throughout the album as a whole, bringing in the fuzzy guitars exactly when appropriate. All in all, I'd say this album strikes a great balance--not too artsy-fartsy to the point of being incomprehensible, but also not being just a bunch of love songs or "let's dance" schlock. And as I've said before, I'm a fan of artists trying to create an album-length work of art and I can tell that they had some of those ideas in mind. Whether or not they actually accomplished creating an album where all the songs are somehow less if taken by themselves, I do think that they managed to create a consistent vibe with this batch of songs.

I kind of compare this album to Radiohead's OK Computer, but this one has a tad less variety as far as tempo goes. And there's the requisite blah-blah-blah about how both deal with technology at some level, but I'm more of a fan of its music, not necessarily what they're trying to "say." The first time I heard the persistence of "The Crystal Lake" and it's fantastic, clean sounding lead guitar sound, I was convinced these guys could deliver the goods. On the opposite end of the spectrum is "So You'll Aim for the Sky," a beautiful, string-filled ballad. The only song I don't like is "Miner at the Dial-a-View," with bridge sections I don't understand.

But overall, this is one of my favorite latter-day albums. (When I say "Latter-Day," I mean more recent than say, oh, 1995.)

RIP Grandaddy

posted by Mike @ 1:30 PM