Musical Thesis: Grandaddy “The Sophtware Slump”

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At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews aren’t about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis.

When I listen to “The Sophtware Slump” by Grandaddy, I hear a character-driven album focused on individuals wrestling with what it means to return home when you are grasping for something good in this world. This challenge is profound, and it took me several listens to discover some real-world applications for my own life.

Home has always been a shelter for me against the challenges of the world. Yet, as I grow older, I am finding it harder to identify with the place I was born. Some of this is political. Some of it is religion. Much of it is values. Those I grew up with have a different definition of good than I do. The struggle lies in our actions and how we present our beliefs. Outside of my childhood home, there are people who see the world differently than I do. There are people who perceive me as the enemy. It is up to me to choose how I respond. I do not know if that was the intention of this album, but it is the thought I am holding onto dearly.

Be good to each other,

Nathan