Customer Reviews

Yours Truly, The Commuter

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4 star:		(5)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

It would be easy to discuss this as a natural extension of Grandaddy, since Lytle was the voice in front and the songwriter behind that great band. The claim has been leveled that the last couple recordings from Grandaddy were largely Lytle's efforts anyway, and while I don't know about that (Jim Fairchild has proven himself a songwriter to be reckoned with in his new project All Smiles), I prefer to write about "Yours Truly, The Commuter" simply as what it is: a solo debut.

Jason Lytle has packaged together a loosely knit group of songs that musically and thematically make superb use of his plangent voice and lyrics. There's no obvious story arc to make this a concept album, yet one gets the feeling that the protagonist of the title track, who was "left for dead," is limping his way back home over the course of the entire disc. Lytle's understated pop chops are in excellent form on songs like that one (the opening cut) and "Brand New Sun," the clear college radio single here. As alluded to in the photographs inside, "weird arrangements" are kept to a minimum ("not on this album" declares a handwritten scrap of paper), yet some of his sonic signatures are intact: wordless harmonies and open-ended chords that build a sort of muted majesty, the musical equivalent of autumn light. There is an abiding presence of the natural world in the branches, canyons, and sunburns that populate these songs.

All told, Lytle has produced a memorable album that is one of the early entrants for 2009 "Best of" lists. It's a mellower affair, but cohesive and grounded and the kind of album that makes you want to press play again once it is over. The focus is clearly melody and mood, and Lytle has succeeded on both counts with "Yours Truly, The Commuter."

Jason Lytle will admit through his lyrics that this is not a triumphant return, but his reemergence back to the indie, alt-country, southwestern music scene is certainly redeeming. Rather than further eulogizing the dissolution of Grandaddy, Jason has reified his talent through his new solo album Yours Truly, The Commuter. Not only is it a lo-fi production continuing the Grandaddy vision of natural wonder surrounded with crunchy guitars and ethereal overtones, but it's also a statement. Lytle, in his pursuit of serenity, is here for the long-haul, not as a rock star, but as an artist.

The overall theme of the album is somewhat a continuation of Grandaddy's What Happened to the Fambly Cat, where Lytle is not subtle about never being able to return to his Shangri-La, geographical or otherwise. The Commuter, however, stresses the classic idea of having the destination matter less than the actual journey, and it is in this journey that Lytle realizes the heroism of the ability to keep pushing on rather than cling to fleeting paradise.

As the album progresses the landscape changes from the typical earthy Grandaddy sound of intertwined guitar, synth and subtle percussion to the takeoff of ethereal chords and extended, up-close confessionals. Plenty of standout tracks on this one; mine include Brand New Sun, Ghost of My Old Dog, Rollin' Home Alone, Flying Thru Canyons and Here for Good. It's an album that gathers an emotional momentum, but soon dissipates, for it's typical of Lytle: all his intention is to make an honest sound, watch it fly around, and then be on his way.

Let the others dissect the songs one by one with detail on each word in the lyrics.

Not me. I listen to and love music from the ear and the heart. This new production written, produced, sung and played solely by Jason Lytle is as good as Sumday which was a breath of fresh air in a time of moody, repetitive music.

Few artists today are capable of generating really good music. Andrew Bird, Devotcha, and Lytle are among those who break the mold and give us what we really want to hear.

Jason Lytle and his album "Yours Truly, The Commuter" is a welcome return from a tremendous songwriter, previously with Grandaddy, with an album that makes me feel the wonder that it is to be young again, staring at the stars on a warm summers night, scared and excited for what might be.

His songs seem to reveal a vulnerability, a certain honesty that you seldomly hear in music. I think what first grabbed me to his writing is that the music is dreamy, yet sad, and the lyrics range from complex to comical. You get the sense that his music is his interpretation of his daily life and I can say I am glad to share it again.

I highly recommend this to anyone.

This record rocks, and shows a great follow up to grandaddy's last record- "Just Like the Fambly Cat". Lytle's unmistakable voice makes this record recognizable, but a departure from the grandaddy days.

This is a pleasant enough song, and I guess it conveys the message. He may be limpin', but he's coming home.

You see home everywhere in Lytle's tunes. "I dream, at night, of going home someday, somewhere so far away." That was Grandaddy, Miner at the Dial-a View. Later on, in Sumday, Lost on Yer Merry Way, he says "All that I'm asking tonight, is that I make it back home tonight". And there was the Fambly Cat who takes off, leaving home.

It's interesting to listen to "Commuter" and then go over to "Lost on Yer Merry Way. Well, the new song is as subdued as it is, apparently, resigned. Jason seems to be searching more than commuting, but he is in motion.

The saying is that "you can't go home again". I guess you leave home and can't go home again, but you can create a new home.

It was sad about Grandaddy, but this song suggests the spirit lives on. Maybe Jason has found some sort of home, and can just write music, which he does so well. The most depressing track on Fambly Cat was the rework of Shangri La, with the lyric changed to suggest no hope, instead of hope. There's none of that here.

This is a brilliant solo record by any measure, especially knowing it's just Lytle alone do everything. The songwriting is incredible as expected from him, and there's also a positive under-current to it. Obviously, some people don't care much for lo-fi recording, as if it's not really music without a professional producer & recording studio. Myself, I love both ways of recording, and great music is great music, pro studio or not. Either way, give it a chance, it's definately a worthwhile record.

Great follow up CD by Jason Lytle following the breakup of Grandaddy.
Enjoy every track.

Excellent CD. Jason Lytle sounds a bit like John Lennon having a head on collision with Wilco. If you like good songwriters this is the guy. I would highly recommend this CD.

John Gunderson

I never liked Grandaddy but love Jason Lytle's first solo recording. It is beautiful, majestic, very mellow and layered. It sounds a little like Modest Mouse. The scenario under which it was recorded is similar to Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and the results are equally brilliant. Legend.

[DW]