Copperopolis

Grant Lee Buffalo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 17, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Noble Rot
• ASIN: B000QUU2TI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,720 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Homespun

2. The Bridge

3. Arousing Thunder

4. Even the Oxen

5. Crackdown

6. Armchair

7. Bethlehem Steel

8. All That I Have

9. Two & Two

10. Better For Us

11. Hyperion And Sunset

12. Comes To Blows

13. The Only Way Down

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ethereal Masterpiece, February 19, 1999

By 

Tim Johnson ([e-mail]) (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Copperopolis (Audio CD)

Giving a Grant Lee Buffalo album four stars is unlike giving four stars to almost anyone else in contemporary music. The truth of the matter is that their albums stand out among the rest based on the strength of emotion alone, not to mention lyrical depth, vocals, arrangement, etc (areas where they topple the popular giants of the modern rock format).

Copperopolis is the most insular, personal work of singer/songwriter Grant Lee Phillips to date. It is an album of sensitivite expression and deep soul. With songs such as, "The Bridge" and "All that I Have", Phillips displays beautifully personal narrative in ways that few artists can, regardless of genre. "Arousing Thunder" is one of the most delicate love songs you'll likely ever hear. Even the most outspoken and public of tracks on the album, "Homespun" and "Comes to Blows", remain intrinsically personal. Phillips has the ability to relate political and personal ideas in his own unique narrative.

Generally, the rough production and musical movements of a GLB album are as incredible as the sentiment. Here, however, these serve more as atmosphere for the emotions. This is perhaps the only problem. Whereas, the musical subtlety of this album enhances its aim, the production is occasionally overdone. The arrangment of instrumentation teeters on the line between ethereal beauty and overemphasis.

Perhaps the difficulty of this album is in the layering. It truly takes a long time to get to the bottom of it all (lyrically and musically). This is characteristic of all GLB music, but most noticeable on "Copperopolis". Luckily, there's still all of that beautiful emotion that will keep you coming back to unravel the mystery.

Above all, Grant Lee Buffalo's music is classic in the most timeless sense of the word and eventually Copperopolis will prove to be one of the most intriguing albums of the GLB catalog.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncover the brilliance...., March 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Copperopolis (Audio CD)

Copperopolis is perhaps the most underated cd of the 90's. While its easy to see how it alienated some listeners, its also easy to become enthralled and somewhat hypnotised by the tapestry of sound. Grant Lee Philips voice along with various guitars, wind pipes and orchestral tools makes for one hell of a journey. It just takes a little time and perseverance to fully appreciate Copperopolis in all its fantastic glory. Start with "Bethleham Steel" and "Crackdown" and work your way from there.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lyricism at its best, June 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Copperopolis (Audio CD)

Taking a different approach than they did in their previous CD, Grant Lee Buffalo concentrates more on lyrics than music, and the result is a brilliant, if not as arresting, work. The songs are not as accessible as the ones on Mighty Joe Moon, but the depth in the lyrics is exceptional and rare in today's musical landscape. There aren't as many standouts on this one, either, but the ones that do standout are incredible. "Hyperion and Sunset" uses Greek mythological allusions to describe migration, "Even the Oxen" is probably the catchiest song here, "Homespun" is an arresting examination of militia, "Crackdown" is a great rocker, and "Bethlehem Steel" is the highlight, a great examination of middle-class estrangement. This one is definitely worth getting, it takes a few listens to get into it, though.