Album Review: Just Like the Fambly Cat

Artist: Grandaddy
Album: Just Like the Fambly Cat
Label: V2
Release Date: 5/9/06
Other Grandaddy albums I recommend: The Sophtware Slump, Under the Western Freeway
Download: Click this link to be redirected to AOL to download "Jeez Louise"

I pretty much gave up on Modesto, CA's Grandaddy after their last album, Sumday. It sounded completely uninspired - like a set of mediocre b-sides for The Sophtware Slump. Fortunately, Just Like the Fambly Cat is a return to form (and quite possibly their best album yet). Most of the press for this album centers around the collapse of the band. If you read any of it you'll find out that Jason Lytle basically wrote and recorded this album alone (with the exception of Aaron Burtch on the drums). He also shaved his beard and checked himself into alcohol rehab for a bit.

Lyrically the album deals with loss, loneliness and feeling disconnected. Musically the album sounds like vintage Grandaddy - spacey at times, prominent keys, and occasional guitar blasts. Some of the standout tracks on the record are: "Jeez Louise," "Rear View Mirror," "Summer...It's Gone," "Elevate Myself" (which seems to cop from Cheap Trick's "She's Tight"), and "Disconnecty." You can listen to the first two tracks I mentioned at the band's site. There aren't any bad songs on the record (you'll probably skip the first track after hearing it a couple of times). My only (minor) complaint is that a few of the tracks could be tightened up a little. I highly recommend picking this one up.