Ok, i've been anxiously awaiting the official release of this album to see what the critics think of it. Personally, it's high up in my top 10 of 2006 along with Elbow, the Stills,the Subways, the Islands, Vitalic, and Mellowdrone.
I think this album perfectly showcases what Grandaddy/Lytle are all about. I'm not sure if Fambly Cat flows as well as Sumday and Sophtware do, but all the songs are really great.
This is Grandaddy's last album as they are breaking up, so I'm glad they they've finished on such a positive note.
Originally posted by Johnsofats: I'm a big Grandaddy fan. Loved both Sophtware and Sumday. I just can't get into this one though. I'm not sure what it is. Yes I do. The meows.
That pretty much sums up my reaction to the album as well. Yeah, that one song would be pretty good, but the meows totally ruin it. I was actually pretty pumped when I first heard that the album would feature several long, sweeping, epic songs. I love those kind of songs, and it seemed like whenever Lytle wrote a song like that it was awesome. Then I heard said epic songs and realized that they suck. (Sigh) The album is far poorer than I thought Grandaddy capable of, especially considering how much I like the EP's and various non-album tracks I've heard from Grandaddy. At least there are a couple of good singles ("Jeez Louise" and "Disconnecty").
Posts: 4001 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
i agree with sicnarf. sumday was alright...it was poppy and had some good songs, but sophtware slump was so much better. it was just a hell of a lot more challenging and creative. sumday just wasn't very interesting/creative.
Originally posted by DCFan: i agree with sicnarf. sumday was alright...it was poppy and had some good songs, but sophtware slump was so much better. it was just a hell of a lot more challenging and creative. sumday just wasn't very interesting/creative.
I used to think that, but then I listened to it again about a year after I first heard it, and it really sounded great. I mean, some of those songs are really great, like "Saddest Vacant Lot In All the World," "Yeah Is What We Had," and "The Warming Sun." Any of those would not be out of place on Sophtware Slump. And I really dig "Now It's On." Great opening song.
Posts: 4001 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
I used to think that, but then I listened to it again about a year after I first heard it, and it really sounded great. I mean, some of those songs are really great, like "Saddest Vacant Lot In All the World," "Yeah Is What We Had," and "The Warming Sun." Any of those would not be out of place on Sophtware Slump. And I really dig "Now It's On." Great opening song.
Agreed! I think Sumday is good fun. Y'all should listen to it again. Give Grandaddy another shot! Sophtware is better, but still
Fambly cat is getting mediocre reviews across the board. Well, at least Pfork and Tiny Mix Tapes. Lost at Sea gave at an 8.5. I generally don't agree with LAS reviews.
Posts: 132 | Location: DC | Registered: 05 April 2006
Being the biased Grandaddy fan that I am, I must weigh in on this discussion. The new album is nothing new, but that isn't a bad thing. It's pure Grandaddy. There is a lot more variety here than on Sumday, which was mostly mid-tempo songs. Fambly Cat stylistically feels like a summation of all the albums and it seems like it's meant to be that way. It's not very often when a band releases a "farewell and thanks for your support" album as their last (they don't usually know it is), but that is what this is. The theme of moving on to new and better places is prevalent in contrast to the Todd Zilla EP which focused on frustration with Lytle's current surroundings.
I will say, I discovered Grandaddy in late 2003 after Sumday was out. I initially loved Sophtware Slump and Under the Western Freeway, but was unimpressed with Sumday. After listening to it repeatedly over time, the songs differentiated themselves a bit and it grew on me in a big way. I still prefer Sophtware Slump, but Sumday has proven to be another personal favorite of mine. I have a feeling that the new one will do the same as it's already growing on me. I will say for sure it is better than Todd Zilla which IMO was their all-time weakest set. If you don't like the meowing (which I'm undecided on), it's only one song, so it's easy to skip (if you must). It's too early to call favorites but Rear View Mirror has been in my head all day, and that's OK by me.
Originally posted by Johnsofats: Fambly cat is getting mediocre reviews across the board. Well, at least Pfork and Tiny Mix Tapes. Lost at Sea gave at an 8.5. I generally don't agree with LAS reviews.
Oh yeah, that Pitchfork review. That was the most positive 6.8 review yet. They didn't have one negative comment. I'm sure they had reasons, but it didn't come out in the review (Oh well, I don't want to turn this into another Pfork thread).
Originally posted by DCFan: i agree with sicnarf. sumday was alright...it was poppy and had some good songs, but sophtware slump was so much better. it was just a hell of a lot more challenging and creative. sumday just wasn't very interesting/creative.
I used to think that, but then I listened to it again about a year after I first heard it, and it really sounded great. I mean, some of those songs are really great, like "Saddest Vacant Lot In All the World," "Yeah Is What We Had," and "The Warming Sun." Any of those would not be out of place on Sophtware Slump. And I really dig "Now It's On." Great opening song.
I was the same way. First I thought Sumday was average at best. Then about 2 months ago I listened to it again, and I can say that I think it's really good.
Yeah I don't get it. All of the reviews say it's such a step up from "Sumday", which they all seem to hate. I love that record, and I'm not so nuts about this one. It's not as catchy or hooky.
great album. it has its faults but overall its so much better then 98% of the crap out there. Peoples expectations unfortunatly were higher then the album met. At first i was a little disappointed(like i was with sumday) because i have been a fan of this band for almost 10 years and Under the Western Freeway and Software Slump would be in my top 10 albums ever so both were a bit of a let down....but like Sumday i listened to Fambly Cat over a few times and began to love it.
i think the most difficult part of listening to new albums of artist you loved for a long time is that where you are now is not where you were when you got into that band. When Fambly Cat came out i was on this old country kick(Haggard, Cash, Williams sr) and thats what was wetting my musical appetite....so i was not ready to listen to Fambly cat and appreciate it.
n/a
Posts: 4 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: 12 June 2006
