The Sophtware Slump
Encyclopedia
The Sophtware Slump is the second studio album by American indie rock
band Grandaddy
, released in 2000. The album received strong reviews from most critics. It is seen by some as a concept album
about problems concerning modern technology in society. The title is a reference to the sophomore slump
, as it is their second album. The album was reissued in 2011 with a second disc of bonus material containing B-sides, EP tracks, outtakes, and demos.
drummer Gary Young
.
ranked The Sophtware Slump fifteenth in its list The Best of the Decade Albums (2000-2009). Steve Taylor, in his book The A to X of Alternative Music, viewed The Sophtware Slump as "clean, lush and less understated" than the band's previous work, describing "The Crystal Lake" as "a perfectly executed pop song". Richard A. Martin, writing for CMJ New Music Monthly
noted Jason Lytle's "new infatuation with technology, expertly juxtaposed with his almost spiritual connection to the West's wide-open spaces and bird-filled skies", and stated that "Lytle expresses sympathy for the lost souls and machines of the high-tech dot-com landscape throughout the album". Neil Strauss of The New York Times
called the album "a heart-achingly beautiful requiem for a culture in which progress and technology have led to alienation and disposability". Allmusic's Heather Phares called it " Grandaddy's most impressive work yet". For the Daily Telegraphs Neil McCormick the album was one of the highlights of 2000, describing it as "a work of rare and precious qualities. A collection of emotional, richly melodic songs that deal with modern man's uneasy relationship with technology".
in its first week of release, re-entering the chart in 2001, peaking at number 63.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
, released in 2000. The album received strong reviews from most critics. It is seen by some as a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
about problems concerning modern technology in society. The title is a reference to the sophomore slump
Sophomore slump
A sophomore slump or sophomore jinx refers to an instance in which a second, or sophomore, effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort...
, as it is their second album. The album was reissued in 2011 with a second disc of bonus material containing B-sides, EP tracks, outtakes, and demos.
Recording
The album was written and recorded by Jason Lytle alone in a remote farmhouse, which he described: "I just remember everything out there was dusty. Humidity and dust." Lytle described how he made the recordings "in my boxer shorts, bent over keyboards with sweat dripping off my forehead, frustrated, hungover, and trying to call my coke dealer". It was mixed by former PavementPavement (band)
Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
drummer Gary Young
Gary Young
Gary Young was the first drummer of the 1990s alternative rock band Pavement.-Early life:Gary Young was born in Mamaroneck, New York. His father worked in the plastics business.-Work with Pavement:...
.
Reception
The indie music magazine Under the RadarUnder the Radar (magazine)
Under the Radar is an American magazine that bills itself as "The solution to music pollution" and features interviews with accompanying photo-shoots. Each issue includes opinion and commentary of the Indie music scene as well as reviews on books, DVDs and albums.Items are reviewed based on a...
ranked The Sophtware Slump fifteenth in its list The Best of the Decade Albums (2000-2009). Steve Taylor, in his book The A to X of Alternative Music, viewed The Sophtware Slump as "clean, lush and less understated" than the band's previous work, describing "The Crystal Lake" as "a perfectly executed pop song". Richard A. Martin, writing for CMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ New Music Monthly was a monthly music magazine with interviews, reviews, and special features. Each issue included a compact disc with 15 to 24 songs by well established bands, unsigned bands, and everything in between...
noted Jason Lytle's "new infatuation with technology, expertly juxtaposed with his almost spiritual connection to the West's wide-open spaces and bird-filled skies", and stated that "Lytle expresses sympathy for the lost souls and machines of the high-tech dot-com landscape throughout the album". Neil Strauss of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
called the album "a heart-achingly beautiful requiem for a culture in which progress and technology have led to alienation and disposability". Allmusic's Heather Phares called it " Grandaddy's most impressive work yet". For the Daily Telegraphs Neil McCormick the album was one of the highlights of 2000, describing it as "a work of rare and precious qualities. A collection of emotional, richly melodic songs that deal with modern man's uneasy relationship with technology".
Track listing
Sales and charts
By February 2001 the album had sold 20,000 copies in the US and almost 80,000 worldwide. By 2006 it had sold 107,000 copies. It reached number 36 on the UK Albums ChartUK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
in its first week of release, re-entering the chart in 2001, peaking at number 63.