Grandaddy - Just like The Fambly Cat

A brief forward:
I've personally been a fan of Grandaddy for quite a while and it's somewhat of a shame that they're now gone. I was going to write up their new record but I also happen to be friends with a guy who's had the band at his heart for many years now and he also happened to be a decent writer. So he agreed to do the writing to accompany this post. I've enjoyed reading what he's written in memory of the band and I hope it's the same for you.

I don't really know what is normally said in this blog. I have only checked it out a few times, as me and my good friends Eugene and Kieran have different tastes. Also different ways of approaching music. I'm not too familiar with the other contributor to the blog, but I am guessing we may not have too many things in common at least music wise, as well. If what usually happens here is a detailed history of the band, or discography. Well go here.

I myself will just talk some, about how I approach music, about what this band means to me. There are many ways people approach music. Some spend time examining every aspect of it. Trying to find more and more, and comparing it. Trying to see why something is good, and why something else isn't. They say things like "I don't like this song, but its their best song". This to me doesn't make sense. As music is opinion really. Better yet, music is feeling. See, there are those of us that approach music by just feeling it. I tend to examine what I feel more than music anyways, so maybe that has something to do with it. Back to the point though, Grandaddy to me was love at first sound. This band can do no wrong for me. As most people that know me I am a big fan of simple. This band does a lot with just being simple. Catchy is something they do great, which makes it that much more shocking they will be no more. I suppose not being scene enough to be picked up by the majority, and not being anti-scene enough to be picked up with the equally populated minority might have something to do with it. What most don't realize about this band is how they can really pull at you. At your emotions. They have some heart wrenching songs, and some songs that will just make you want to run around and be a kid again. Songs that will put a big smile on your face, or songs that you will just want to sit back to and relax with. Songs that will tell you a story, or just not be appreciated until you are ready to appreciate them. Their latest and last CD, "Just Like The Fambly Cat", is something that may take majority of people time to get used to. I think it being there last CD, they decided to go out on their terms. They decided to make a record they could be happy with. The first priority of this creation really isn't meant to sell units. This doesn't mean it isn't good, this doesn't mean its really experimental(, trippy shit. Just means, you really need to be able to feel music, or at least examine music right in order to appreciate it. This is something the band made for themselves, and decided to share with their fans. Its the perfect soundtrack for any Grandaddy fan, who wants to sit back and remember all the times they have had with this band. Intentional or not. An album that will probably go unappreciated by a lot of people. "Open minded", and "close minded" alike. For those of you who are barely finding out about Grandaddy, this may not be the record to start with, for those of you who have followed this band a good while, try your hardest to truly enjoy what they did for you. Because they truly did something special. I'm sorry for my ranting, and if this wasn't to your liking. If you enjoyed this, I'm glad you did and I hope you have a good understanding of my love for this band. So enjoy....

- Robert

Grandaddy - Skateboarding Saves Me Twice
Grandaddy - Where I'm Anymore

Buy Just Like The Fambly Cat from Insound

Unexpected bonus:
Robert handed me one of his many Grandaddy rarities for all the Grandaddy fans to enjoy.
Grandaddy - Glider Pilot