The Sophtware Slump
by Grandaddy

I understand comparisons to Ok Computer but for me that album dealt with humanity losing itself through technological advancement whereas here Jason Lytle is dealing with the aftermath where that battle is in the past and nature has reclaimed the earth. I think this is best exemplified by the songs Broken Household Appliance National Forest, where man's technological detritus is now home to the animals,
"The refrigerators house the frogs
The conduit is the hollow log"
and Miner At The Dial-A-view where the eponymous Miner is looking back at his old home from some Mining Outpost and although he finds familiar landmarks he can't find the people he knew. Often described as post apocalyptic I don't think the album gives any indication of there having been an apocalypse,it's more that progress has rendered man obsolete and now the world he built has nobody to serve and is crumbling back to the earth. (Edited)

Heard this album several years ago and enjoyed it quite a bit, but eventually it somehow slipped away from me and I completely forgot about it. Now that I have listened to it again I love it even more. It's got a great variety of sounds and moods with interesting lyrics and fantastic melodies. Definitely a unique experience.

Grandaddy's masterpiece amongst a high quality catalogue. He's simple....is their finest song, although Crystal Lake not far behind. An album full of lush texture, heart-tugging melodies and utterly bizarre lyrics - who could ask for anything more.

From meccalecca TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/08/2014 19:56 | #111208 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

The robot boy returned home from his travels full of stories he was more than willing to share with us. (Edited)

From paladisiac TOP 100 COMMENTER 12/11/2011 05:06 | #32655 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Begins with the epic "he's simple, he's dumb, he's the pilot" which recalls radiohead's "airbag", but on a lighter cloud. About half-way through dualing choruses say it all: "Are you givin' in 2000 man?" / "Did you love this world / And this world not love you?". Like "ok computer", there's a lot of "man's role in the new tech world" perspective with gurgling computer FX underneath many songs, along with some "major tom" bowie and "kid a" scenery. (They also remind me of the flaming lips.) But unlike the radiohead albums, grandaddy seems more begrudgingly hypnotized by the scene as in "High above the wrecks / On ice shelves and dressers" on "hewlett's daughter". You can kinda guess where the album's headed with track titles like "hewlett's daughter", "jed the humanoid" and "broken household appliance national forest". The opening track, "the crystal lake" and "so you'll aim toward the sky" are the majestic highlights. "The Crystal Lake" sounds like an interesting place to hang out with its "Should never have left the crystal lake / For parties full of folks who flake / Italian leather winter games / Retired by the duraflames " but the narrator only wants "outta here" amidst the effects-laden lake. "so you'll aim toward the sky" is simple lyrically, but awing in its defeated trajectory, especially following the nervous loneliness of "miner at the dial-a-view". It's a sad and hopeful song that could soundtrack the credits of a sci-fi movie where the hero ascends to his demise to save others. This could be the A.I. soundtrack.