Ex-Grandaddy Jason Lytle Gives Away Free Christmas Online Album, Reveals LP2 Details, Maintains His “Hi-Tech Backwater Hermit Chic” Nicely

Ex-Grandaddy frontman Jason Lytle probably has some time on his hands ever since he decided to move into the mountains and recast himself as some sort of precocious, thin-skinned, sad-sack, indie-rock version of Ted Nugent. From his decidedly-isolated home in rural Montana, Lytle has already graced us with a decidedly homespun solo debut for Anti- earlier this year, Yours Truly, The Commuter (TMT Review). Now, he’s apparently decided to leave the mics on while he sips of the ‘Nog and doodles around on the old upright piano to entertain his pets or whatever and then give the results away online as an “improv” Christmas album. Hmm... touché, Jason. I’m sort of intrigued. The resulting freestyle album, which is comprised of seven improvisational pieces (that means “songs,” for all you Motor City Madman fans who googled this article by accident) for solo acoustic piano and aptly-if-not-sort-of-piteously titled Merry X-Mas 2009, is available to download from his website as we speak. "It just so happens that playing my piano at home is one of my favorite things to do (in terms of music),” Lytle explained on his site, “so it was nice to be able to capture some of these moments of me playing aimlessly and relaxed.” So, there you have it. No robots, no synths, no static, no Neil Young warble. Just one man... in a room... betraying his apparent fanboy love for melodic demigods like Schubert, Chopin, and Satie.

And while he was at it, The Nuge Jr. also dropped the casual bomb that he is currently working on his second full-length solo record. "I am currently at work on a new album," he explained. "And although I'm quite sure none of the songs will end up on the radio I'm guaranteeing that this will be the weirdest, most wonderful mayhem I have made yet." Right on, Uncle Ted. Right on.

Merry X-Mas 2009 tracklisting:

1. Last Conversation in Waltz Time
2. Wild Animals Slowly Approaching the Lovely Country Funeral
3. Out Cold on Indian Ambien
4. Meeshell
5. Good Chord Song for LP Two
6. Bird Feeder Soap Opera Plot
7. SepDecember Song

Most Read



Etc.