The Sophtware Slump, Grandaddy’s 2000 release, was extremely well received and is a very good album. They also earned respect for not being afraid to toy with the Beatles’ “Revolution” on the I Am Sam soundtrack. While everyone else was afraid to be the band that ruined a Beatles song, Grandaddy came from nowhere to recreate the Fab Four’s classic and came out with something no one expected.
Sumday, the band’s fourth studio release, finds Grandaddy traversing their back catalogue. No one familiar with the band’s material will be shocked by the sound on Sumday—quirky pop that is distinct, endearing, and fun, using modern synths and samples to accentuate songs rooted in vintage rock. Tracks like “OK with My Decay,” “The Warming Sun,” and first single “Now It’s On” are the best examples.
The bad part for Grandaddy is that there are other bands that are better at this sound: The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Super Furry Animals, etc. Yet it isn’t right that Sumday—originally planned to be a double-album organized into party and post-party wind-down music and then forced into one by the band’s label—is faulted because of another band’s work. The music here is good, very good, and it deserves to be heard.
So while Sumday is not a mind-blowing or revolutionary album, there is nothing wrong with music that is just good, music that doesn’t need adjectives like “important,” “landmark,” or “classic.” I can honestly say I enjoy listening to Sumday, and you will too. In the end, isn’t that the point of music anyway?