Under the Western Freeway

Under the Western Freeway
Studio album by Grandaddy
Released 21 October 1997
Recorded Floater, Modesto; Headcorders, Coulterville, California
Genre Indie rock, space rock
Length 46:47
Label Will
Producer Jason Lytle
Grandaddy chronology

Live at the Art Factory
(1997)		 Under the Western Freeway
(1997)		 Machines Are Not She
(1998)
Singles from Under the Western Freeway
  1. "Everything Beautiful Is Far Away"
    Released: February 1998
  2. "Laughing Stock"
    Released: March 1998
  3. "Summer Here Kids"
    Released: May 1998
  4. "A.M. 180"
    Released: October 1998

Under the Western Freeway is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy. It was released on October 21, 1997 by Will Records.

Release

Under the Western Freeway was released on October 21, 1997.

It was later reissued in the U.S. by V2 Records.[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [2]
Robert Christgau A−[3]
The Independent favorable[4]
Pitchfork 9.6/10[5]

The album was fairly well-received critically. CMJ New Music Monthly described it as "an eccentric psych-pop collection".[6] Andy Gill of The Independent called it "one of the most beguiling debuts of the year [...] a fortuitous collision of Brian Wilson, Neil Young and the Pixies which throws out a stream of understated pop gems".[4] AllMusic noted similarities to the bands Pavement and Weezer, and described it as "a fairly brilliant album, combining a warm, earnest and rustic feel with sometimes goofy experimentation".[2] Frontman Jason Lytle's vocal performance was also praised; Jason Josephes of Pitchfork said: "If the lonely vocals of 'Lineage' and 'Collective Dreamwish of Upperclass Elegance' don't strike you there, you have no soul".[5]

Steve Taylor wrote in his book The A to X of Alternative Music that "Laughing Stock" is the album's standout track. The track features guitars fed back on themselves building as the track progresses.[7]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Jason Lytle. 

No. Title Length
1. "Nonphenomenal Lineage"   3:11
2. "A.M. 180"   3:20
3. "Collective Dreamwish of Upperclass Elegance"   5:26
4. "Summer Here Kids"   3:35
5. "Laughing Stock"   5:59
6. "Under the Western Freeway"   3:01
7. "Everything Beautiful Is Far Away"   5:13
8. "Poisoned at Hartsy Thai Food"   1:13
9. "Go Progress Chrome"   2:31
10. "Why Took Your Advice"   4:07
11. "Lawn and So On"   9:04

References

  1. ↑ Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography. Canongate. p. 773. ISBN 1-84195-335-0.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Abebe, Nitsuh. "Under the Western Freeway – Grandaddy | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  3. ↑ Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Grandaddy". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gill, Andy (November 7, 1997). "Pop Albums: Grandaddy Under the Western Freeway (Big Cat ABB152CD)". The Independent. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Josephes, Jason. "Grandaddy: Under the Western Freeway: Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Richard A. Martin (February 2001). "Hidden Agenda: Grandaddy's Fake Plastic Trees Can't Obscure How Good They Are". CMJ New Music Monthly: 37–39. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  7. ↑ Taylor, Steve (2004). The A to X of Alternative Music. Continuum. p. 119. ISBN 0-8264-7396-2.

External links