Grandaddy’s 2000 sophomore LP, The Sophtware Slump, has held up rather well over the decade-plus since I first heard Jason Lytle & Co. perform these enigmatic, conceptual yet heart-wrenching tunes while opening for Elliott Smith. Lytle’s post-split solo material has been consistently inspired, sure, but this record remains the most exemplary of his work. Now we have a good excuse to honor the 11-track collection: Drowned in Sound reports that a double-disc edition, which includes the original album accompanied by B-sides, alternate takes, demos, EP-only cuts, and other recordings from the era, will be reissued on August 22 to celebrate its 11th anniversary.
Others have been revisiting “The Crystal Lake” and the haunting opening track, “He’s Simple, He’s Dumb, He’s the Pilot,” when news of the reissue dropped today, but my pick goes to piano-backed heartbreaker “Underneath the Weeping Willow,” spinning below:
“Underneath the Weeping Willow”