grandaddy
sumday
V2, 2003
ds rating: 
Although Grandaddy’s 2000 album, The Sophtware Slump, is considered by many critics to be their chef d’œuvre, their follow up to it is often criminally underrated - despite (or perhaps, because of?) it being a much more enjoyable and fun listening experience.
Whereas The Sophtware Slump was a dark and difficult listen, Sumday is remarkably upbeat, despite covering similar themes - most obviously, the ever-increasing dependence that humans are placing upon machines and technology, and where that may lead us. It’s all a bit more mellow and accessible than much of their earlier work, which actually works perfectly, as they never lose their quirky and clever eccentricities. read more…
fan modine
slow road to tiny empire
phovsho, 1997
ds rating:
Fan Modine is the project of American musician Gordon Zacharias. Apparently, Slow Road to Tiny Empire is a concept album of sorts, and yet even upon numerous listens, it certainly isn’t a laborious or overbearing concept. Apparently, this was initially meant to be the soundtrack to a film script that Zacharias was working on, that never came to fruition. Our subject, a certain Fandemian Kirk Modine, is an American pop star living in China; clearly, alienation and loneliness are strong themes based on the concept. Of course, these are themes that most people can relate to in some sense.
With a heavily low-fi, DIY aesthetic, this is certainly an album which takes a few listen to get into. The great thing about this is that each subsequent listen will uncover something new and fascinating - a surreal album read more…
