Grandaddy - Under the Western Freeway

Grandaddy is an American indie rock band from Modesto, California, formed in 1992. The band consisted of Jason Lytle (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Kevin Garcia (bass guitar), Aaron Burtch (drums), Jim Fairchild (guitar) and Tim Dryden (keyboards).

After several self-released records and cassettes, the band signed to Will Records in the US and later the V2 subsidiary Big Cat Records in the UK, going on to sign an exclusive deal with V2. The bulk of the band's recorded output was the work of Lytle, who worked primarily in home studios. The band released four studio albums before splitting in 2006, with band members going on to solo careers and other projects. Grandaddy reformed in 2012 and have since made a number of live appearances.

Under the Western Freeway is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy. It was released on 21 October 1997 on Will Records. It was later reissued in the U.S. by V2 Records.
The album was fairly well-received critically. Allmusic gave the album a four star rating, noting 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". CMJ New Music Monthly described it as "an eccentric psych-pop collection". Andy Gill, writing for 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". Front-man 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".

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


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