"Grandaddy garnered attention initially with the lo-fi, raw sound that characterized their early work. The group was founded in California in 1992 by Jason Lytle, Kevin Garcia and Aaron Burtch. Jim Fairchild and Tim Dryden would round out the roster three years later and set the stage for the group's 1996 EP A Pretty Mess by This One Band. Though they sounded similar to a lot of indie bands that had become college cult favorites, the released paved the way for the release of their full-length debut, Under the Western Freeway. The album prompted comparisons to Pavement and Weezer and demonstrated the band's ability to produce catchy melodies that could draw in listeners.Their follow-up, The Sophtware Slump, saw an infusion of an electronic element into the group's music, most notably via keyboards on tracks like ""The Crystal Lake."" The album was heralded for is ethereal, melancholy feel and brought about comparisons to Radiohead's O.K. Computer. The album title was an obvious poke at the tendency for bands to experience a bit of a letdown with the release of their second record, a trend dubbed ""the sophomore slump.""Amidst the release of a couple of EPs and a busy touring schedule, the group cut Sumday in 2003. After Sophtware Slump avoided the dreaded sophomore slump, some viewed Sumday as a bit of a slump. The band received criticism for being less adventurous and more monotonous than on their previous record.Grandaddy returned in 2006 with another full-length, Just Like the Fambly Cat. The album served as a rebound of sorts from the relative sense of disappointment that their third record had left with some fans and critics. Some chalked up the strong effort displayed on Fambly Cat to the band's members feeling they had something to prove. Whatever it was, it worked and the record served as a reminder of the caliber of music that this band is capable of producing."