Jason Lytle

Grandaddy were a great band. Jason Lytle wrote the songs for Grandaddy. Lytle's solo albums sound a great deal like Grandaddy. Therefore, Dept. of Disappearance must be a great album. In theory, that's sound logic, but there's a reason Grandaddy were one of indie rock's great underachievers: they never made a pressing argument for why they should be loved and their wonderfully soporific music could easily drift past the unconvinced listener. And that's very much the case with Dept. of Disappearance. There's nothing wrong with the album, but it's just more of the same thing Lytle has always done; it is a obviously a comfortable place for him and that's reflected in the lyrics, which are warmer and less detached than in his solo debut. But all too soon the songs begin to bleed together and all the reasons for initially loving the album become the same for not caring. Lytle needs to challenge both himself and the listener next time around.