Grandaddy: The Sophtware Slump

Bits of broken and archaic contraptions litter the production, packaging, and even lyrics of The Sophtware Slump, the California band Grandaddy's grandiose third album and one of those remarkable instances in which texture, technology, and songcraft work together in near-perfect harmony. Mournful and lush but tentative, the epic opening track ("He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot") sets the mood without giving a proper indication of what's to come. Beneath the carefully constructed soundscapes, Jason Lytle's songs possess more than their share of hooks, while his high, lilting voice invests even songs about neglected, suicidal robots ("Jed" and "Jed's Other Poem") with unexpected poignancy. In inspiration and execution, there's more than a little OK Computer and Pavement here, but Grandaddy finds plenty of territory to call its own. "Hewlett's Daughter," "The Crystal Lake," and "Broken Household Appliance National Forest" (the album's centerpiece and best track) all crunch forward with assurance, even when the outdated synths kick in. Meanwhile, the concept, though ever-present, never gets in the way. Music made from a past that refuses to disappear, The Sophtware Slump is perfect accompaniment for the melancholy end of the machine age.