Grandaddy: Last Place
Last Place is Grandaddy’s first new album since their 2006 split and 2012 reformation. It not only marks a new chapter in the California rock band’s career, but also effectively restarts it. Several of the disc’s early singles, like memorable opener “Way We Won’t” and hushed ballad “A Lost Machine,” gave fans a sense of what’s to come, but it’s only while listening to Last Place as a whole that you really understand who the musicians in Grandaddy are now. The tracks veer stylistically, but always stay close to the group’s indie-rock sensibility, which often pairs thoughtful lyrics with charming, sing-along melodies. “I Don’t Wanna Live Here Anymore” is propulsive and hooky, resulting in a carefully built power-pop anthem with a simply stated narrative. In fact, most of the songs here adhere to the idea that simple is better. Grandaddy doesn’t overcomplicate their songs or over-layer the instrumentals; instead, they craft each song with exactly what it needs. Tracks like “Evermore” and the orchestral “This Is the Part” work because every aspect comes together in harmony, proving that time away hasn’t hindered Grandaddy’s ability to create solid music. On the album’s closer, “Songbird Son,” the band initially builds a slightly more complex soundscape, piling ethereal sounds before succumbing to sparse acoustic riffs and singer Jason Lytle’s croon. It’s a nice way to end things, even if it’s emotionally heavy, because it’s a reminder that these musicians still have something to say—and that they know how to say it.