Grandaddy 'Last Place' (ALBUM REVIEW)

"The trademark Grandaddy sounds are still in evidence on the dozen tracks on ‘Last Place’, all written by Jason; fuzzy analogue synths lovingly dusted down and sounding as good as ever..."

Californian quintet Grandaddy would never really describe themselves as prolific, just the four albums to show from a quarter century together, garnering cult success and critical acclaim along the way, without ever cracking the mainstream. These frustrations led to a six-year hiatus, the band members following their own paths before reuniting for a bunch of festival appearances in 2012.

It’s taken a further five years for album number five ‘Last Place’ to appear, released on Danger Mouse’s 30th Century Records, bringing a welcome end to over a decade of creative inactivity from Jason Lytle, Jim Fairchild, Kevin Garcia, Tim Dryden and Aaron Burtch. You’ll be pleased to know Grandaddy are also visiting these shores for a bunch of spring shows including this year’s 6music festival on 25th March followed by Leeds’ Irish Centre a couple of days later. 

The trademark Grandaddy sounds are still in evidence on the dozen tracks on ‘Last Place’, all written by Jason; fuzzy analogue synths lovingly dusted down and sounding as good as ever on the new wave tinged opening groovers ‘Way We Won’t’, ‘Brush With The Wild’ and ‘Evermore’.

The Wilburyesque ‘I Don’t Wanna Live Here Anymore’ is perhaps a testament to Lytle’s recently restless nature, the second half of the album also dominated by dreamy, personal, more sombre numbers including 'Jed the 4th’, ‘That’s What You Get for Gettin’ Outta Bed’ and the desperately sad break-up number ‘This Is The Part’, beautifully fleshed out with swooping strings.

Penultimate track ‘A Lost Machine’ is arguably the album’s magnum opus, skittish electronica giving way to sparse piano, the song building to a shuddering climax over six minutes before ending as it started, the sense of loss almost palpable from Jason’s despairing words ‘Everything About We is a Forgotten Dream’.

Nice to have you back guys.

Words - Mike Price.

Grandaddy

Last Place is out now on 30th Century Records

Tour dates

March 23 - Potterrow, Edinburgh
March 26 - Hoults Yard, Newcastle
March 27 - Irish Centre, Leeds
March 28 - Albert Hall, Manchester
March 29 - Rock City, Nottingham
March 31 - Colton Hall, Bristol
April 1 - Concorde, Brighton - SOLD OUT
April 3 - Roundhouse, London
April 4 – Rough Trade East, London