#84 (of 365) "He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot" Grandaddy

I owned this album for months before I ever played it. I think it was still in the wrapper. Back in 2000 I used to subscribe to CMJ New Music Monthly, a magazine which included a CD of 20 or so new indie songs and write-ups on bands and one of the songs on one of the issues was Grandaddy's "The Crystal Lake," which has already appeared on this countdown. I liked it enough to buy the album but not enough, apparently, to ever play the album. In 2001, when I discovered the much larger indie rock world, first through Neutral Milk Hotel, and then through Pitchfork Media (before it sucked), one of the albums highlighted was in fact The Sophtware Slump, which I in fact owned! I unwrapped it, played it, and was--amazed--by this opening track. Nearly 9 minutes of slow, languid repetitious absolute beauty... I immediately gobbled up everything Grandaddy and this became one of my all-time favorite albums. The band did a reunion / 25th (?) anniversary edition tour last year and seeing them play this songs, in particular this song, live was a really wonderful experience.

I believe they want you to give in

"He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot" - Grandaddy // The Sophtware Slump (2000)