Way back in 1997, soon-to-be-huge U.S. indie rock troupe Grandaddy released their debut full-length album Under the Western Freeway. Now Jason Lytle and co. are looking back to those early beginnings with an expanded 20th anniversary vinyl reissue.
The sprawling 20th anniversary reissue of Under the Western Freeway is set to arrive on October 20 via Friendshipforever. It will come as a 2-LP set on coloured vinyl, one yellow and one blue. The first slab of wax will contain the original album, while the second will feature a series of previously unreleased demos.
In addition, the package will come with a booklet of photos, flyers and liner notes from Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys. As a bonus, the first 250 orders will also receive a cassette called 'Practice 97, which features eight more previously unreleased recordings from a 1997 Grandaddy band practice.
For a taste of some of the bonus material, you can hear the reissue's "Hawaiian Island Wranglers" below the release's tracklist. You can pre-order the reissue over here.
Below, you'll find a bit of history lesson on Under the Western Freeway from the label:
The importance of Under the Western Freeway is further exemplified by how the record grew in its importance among those who stumbled upon it. Zines ruled the day in 1997. Reading about a release, finding that release in stores, and then having the unique pleasure of telling a friend how great a record was exponentially propelled the word-of-mouth growth of this record. Grandaddy seemed to be everyone's unique discovery, everyone's favorite band they whispered the lyrics to, the band they found themselves gravitating toward after they saw that what was supposed to be great just wasn't.
Under the Western Freeway didn't start its own scene. No, what made this record and this band unique was that they took their interpretation from many different scenes, as viewed from their skewed perch of Modesto, California, and made their own way into indie rock's top echelon. From the trucker hats, to Lytle's hand tattoo that says "skate," to the taking of the best bits of ELO and dropping it into a blender — all of this made for a powerful record released just at the right time. Just enough guitar and keyboards, just enough sadness, just enough ironic, manic-driven happiness that captured what a lot of us were thinking and feeling in the fall of '97.
Tragically, Grandaddy co-founder Kevin Garcia died from a sudden stroke at age 41 earlier this year. The band's last studio album remains 2016's The Last Place.
Under the Western Freeway: 20th Anniversary Edition:
1. Nonphenomenal Lineage
2. A.M. 180
3. Collective Dreamwish of Upperclass Elegance
4. Summer Here Kids
5. Laughing Stock
6. Under the Western Freeway
7. Everything Beautiful Is Far Away
8. Poisoned at Hartsy Thai Food
9. Go Progress Chrome
10. Why Took Your Advice
11. Lawn & So On
Unreleased 1997 demos:
1. Hawaiian Island Wranglers
2. For the Dishwasher (Slow Demo)
3. Dying Brains (Early Demo)
4. Summer Here Kids (Early Demo)
5. Le symphonique d'HeeHaw
6. Street Bunny (Fluffy Distortion Demo)
7. Bjork ELO Xanadu and The Birth of Chartsengrafs
8. Laughing Stock (Revelation Demo)
Practice '97:
1. I'm Not Alright
2. Summer Here Kids
3. Taster
4. I'm In Love WIth No One
5. Everything Beautiful is Far Away
6. Street Bunny
7. Lawn & So On
8. Levitz
The sprawling 20th anniversary reissue of Under the Western Freeway is set to arrive on October 20 via Friendshipforever. It will come as a 2-LP set on coloured vinyl, one yellow and one blue. The first slab of wax will contain the original album, while the second will feature a series of previously unreleased demos.
In addition, the package will come with a booklet of photos, flyers and liner notes from Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys. As a bonus, the first 250 orders will also receive a cassette called 'Practice 97, which features eight more previously unreleased recordings from a 1997 Grandaddy band practice.
For a taste of some of the bonus material, you can hear the reissue's "Hawaiian Island Wranglers" below the release's tracklist. You can pre-order the reissue over here.
Below, you'll find a bit of history lesson on Under the Western Freeway from the label:
The importance of Under the Western Freeway is further exemplified by how the record grew in its importance among those who stumbled upon it. Zines ruled the day in 1997. Reading about a release, finding that release in stores, and then having the unique pleasure of telling a friend how great a record was exponentially propelled the word-of-mouth growth of this record. Grandaddy seemed to be everyone's unique discovery, everyone's favorite band they whispered the lyrics to, the band they found themselves gravitating toward after they saw that what was supposed to be great just wasn't.
Under the Western Freeway didn't start its own scene. No, what made this record and this band unique was that they took their interpretation from many different scenes, as viewed from their skewed perch of Modesto, California, and made their own way into indie rock's top echelon. From the trucker hats, to Lytle's hand tattoo that says "skate," to the taking of the best bits of ELO and dropping it into a blender — all of this made for a powerful record released just at the right time. Just enough guitar and keyboards, just enough sadness, just enough ironic, manic-driven happiness that captured what a lot of us were thinking and feeling in the fall of '97.
Tragically, Grandaddy co-founder Kevin Garcia died from a sudden stroke at age 41 earlier this year. The band's last studio album remains 2016's The Last Place.
Under the Western Freeway: 20th Anniversary Edition:
1. Nonphenomenal Lineage
2. A.M. 180
3. Collective Dreamwish of Upperclass Elegance
4. Summer Here Kids
5. Laughing Stock
6. Under the Western Freeway
7. Everything Beautiful Is Far Away
8. Poisoned at Hartsy Thai Food
9. Go Progress Chrome
10. Why Took Your Advice
11. Lawn & So On
Unreleased 1997 demos:
1. Hawaiian Island Wranglers
2. For the Dishwasher (Slow Demo)
3. Dying Brains (Early Demo)
4. Summer Here Kids (Early Demo)
5. Le symphonique d'HeeHaw
6. Street Bunny (Fluffy Distortion Demo)
7. Bjork ELO Xanadu and The Birth of Chartsengrafs
8. Laughing Stock (Revelation Demo)
Practice '97:
1. I'm Not Alright
2. Summer Here Kids
3. Taster
4. I'm In Love WIth No One
5. Everything Beautiful is Far Away
6. Street Bunny
7. Lawn & So On
8. Levitz