Customer Reviews

Mobilize

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Grant-Lee Phillips's 'Mobilize' continues his career as a tremendously talented and multifaceted musician constantly on the cusp of either artistic achievement or commercial acceptance. It is a work that is both sparse and lush, more so than the last three Grant Lee Buffalo records. Gone are the anthemic signatory rockers (such as Lone Star Song) balanced with the acoustic balladry that characterized GLB albums. Instead, 'Mobilize' is painted with a consistent pallet of guitar or piano songs that are (often) backed with some trippy electronics and that rise with Phillips's soaring vocals. At times I'm convinced Grant-Lee is among the best singers in rock.

As one of a few indie-alt rockers in the 1990s writing songs about issues larger than self-absorbed angst, Phillips, who took on homegrown fanaticism in earlier work, deserves an ear in light of the turbulent turn the world took on September 11, 2001. As if on cue, the grand themes of See American, Humankind and Mobilize alone make this one of the year's more relevant albums.

Yet Phillips often looks inward for his influences, and there are some lovely tunes about love and life here.

Bottom line on 'Mobilize'? Probably too subtle for the indie/rocker crowd, too inventive for commercial success and no real 'break out' songs for further recognition than he garnered with Grant Lee Buffalo. It is, however, the kind of beautifully private record perhaps best enjoyed best alone.

I first heard Grant-Lee when he was part of Grant-Lee Buffalo. A friend made me a tape of "Mighty Joe Moon" about six years ago. I hadn't really thought about Grant-Lee until I saw the Exile Follies tour with Kristen Hersh, Grant-Lee and John Doe. I was so impressed with Grant-Lee that I had to hear more. I downloaded parts of songs from this album and listened to them over and over. I had to buy the album. So I bought it a week ago and have been listening to nothing else but this since. It's on most of the day at work and then on in the car for four or five songs at a time. I truly love this cd, it's a good thing that it's not on tape or the tape would be worn out already.

There is something really catchy about the songs that make you want to listen to them over and over. They also get stuck in your head and you just have to listen to them! "Spring Released," "Sadness Soot" and "Beautiful Dreamers" are the main ones that I keep singing over and over in my head. "See America" has a wonderful romantic sound to it that makes you want to take a road trip. I thought the lyrics seemed really cool at first, then I read the lyrics in the liner notes and realized that they are even cooler than they sound, they are quite poetic.

If you've never heard Grant-Lee, I've learned that you're missing out. He's definitely up there with my faves - PJ Harvey, Kristen Hersh, Tori and Liz Phair. I will definitely be adding more Grant-Lee Phillips to my collection as I can afford it.

R.E.M. fans like myself that were spoiled by the perfect record called "Automatic For the People" and continue to be disappointed by subsequent efforts should find Grant-Lee Philips and rejoice! He is that rare artist who puts out a perfect album ("Mighty Joe Moon") and then doesn't disappoint with the follow-ups. Did "Copperopolis" fall a little short due to its musical consistency? Were there two or three tracks on "Jubilee" that weren't up to the others? Was "Ladies Love Oracle" missing the glorious production found on all GLB records? Yeah, sure. But they are all such fantastic records - so outrageously wonderful that you just don't care to get academic. Well, drop the textbooks - "Mobilize" is a knockout from beginning to end - a worthy companion to "Mighty Joe Moon" and my only reluctance to put them at the same level is my seven years of loving the older record. Give it time. "Mobilize" is its equal. The only thing that puzzles me is why radio stations are not playing "Beautiful Dreamers". Grant has never written a song that sounds as good on a car radio with the top down - not his aspiration, to be sure, but darn if it doesn't have that 'crossover potential". Weird, huh?

After gulping down "Ladies' Love Oracle" some seven hundred times, I was maybe a bit anxious for "Mobilize" to hit the racks. He didn't fail me, but it wasn't what I was expecting either. I had hoped for volume two of that glorious record -- the "Teaser and the Firecat" that would hopefully follow his personal "Tillerman" -- when really he's just returning to what he does best. "Mobilize" is a terrific collection of bluesy rock ballads that would pass effortlessly as the missing link between his former band Grant Lee Buffalo's "Fuzzy" and "Mighty Joe Moon". When I heard "Mobilize" (the song, that is, not the album) I got deja vu to the first time I heard "Lone Star Song". In short, though the heavier guitar workings and higher production values may surprise fans of his solo gig, no one -- new fan or old -- should find this record disappointing. This is a solid album, elegant and fluid, that I hope will put Grant into the spotlight under which he belongs.

Grant Lee Phillips is a top-class singer-songwriter who has a wealth of experience as well as two or three truly great records behind him, and somehow you just knew he wasn't going to disappoint with Mobilize. It finds Phillips embracing a more polished, modern sound than past efforts - accentuated by the classy, breatless pop of the opener 'See America' and similarly impressive 'Humankind'. As the title suggests 'Love's A Mystery' is all mystique and intrigue with Phillips sounding eerily like David Byrne, and is exactly the kind of left-field tunesmithery on the human condition at which he excels.
The real gem here though is 'Sadness Soot' - dizzying in it's magnificence and showcasing just how remarkable Phillips' voice really is - a master of phrasing, mood and expression. As with his Grant Lee Buffalo albums, just when you think you're in for more pop thrills, we get something edgy and challenging like the title track to throw you off the scent. The second half of Mobilize is engaging and interesting, if a little less consistent than the first (though that's a common complaint these days). Still, the bonus track 'Sunday Best' is a rather jaunty closing treat.
For listeners that like their music to be innovative, fresh and just a little outside the square then Mobilize will fit the bill nicely.

"Mobilize" is hands-down one of my favorite albums of 2001. If you're expecting the full, upbeat sound of former Grant Lee Buffalo ablums such as "Jubilee," you may be disappointed--but not for very long. "Mobilize" has a charm all of its own, imbued as it is with Phillips' mellow (yet quite often poppy) music and intelligent lyrics. The album doesn't really suffer from the lack of a drummer, since Phillips layers in drum machines to good effect without sounding dated. The tone of the album ranges from the lyrically somber acoustic "See America" and "Lazily Drowning" to the upbeat and exceedingly catchy "Spring Released" and "Beautiful Dreamers". "Mobilize" holds well together, maintaining a consistent sound, and is very much worth exploring.

It is amazing how incredibly good this album is. I can't believe I waited a week to pick it up. What was I thinking???
I haven't been this entranced with an album on first listen in eons. The pure poetry and beauty of Phillips voice sends chills down my back. I've always been a fan of Grant Lee Buffalo, but this album, my friends, made me a dedicated follower for life. Everyone must have this in their collection~!

Wow, this album blew me away. I have been a long time fan of Grant Lee Buffalo, so naturally I follow Grant's solo career. I assumed this new solo album would be similar to his previous one (Ladies Love Oracle). I was wrong. Mobilize is a far bigger album in production and structure. It is filled with great energy and raw emotional power. It sounds as if Grant-Lee is starting fresh.

This album is a grande evolution for Grant. All of the songs have a powerful emotional quality to them. Download those two tracks im sure you will be utterly amazing this album is. I don't want to go on and on. I will just simply tell you that it is an amazing achievement. So far, this is the best album of the year......hands down!

"Epic masterpiece..." "Channeling John Lennon" These are descriptions from other reviews, both puzzling to me. There's nothing epic about this, nor is there the slightest resemblance to Mr. Lennon -- who composed music in an entirely different vein. This is a personal album, sometimes quiet and sometimes hypnotically beat-driven. As far as I can tell GLP played and sang everything himself. This is like his earlier Ladies Love Oracle, but juiced up with rhythm. Acoustic guitars and electric keyboards predominate, with the synthetic percussion.

Mobilize doesn't really hang together as a unified piece. It is more a collection of songs, most of which are very good. The best of them are dreamy, entrancing, and soothing. Computer-sequenced beats give a pulse to many of the tracks. The lyrics are specific enough to be enticing but vague enough to allow your own interpretation. Was See America Grant-Lee's twist on Simon & Garfunkel's "...all come to look for America"? It seems so to me, and I think it is equally clever and anthemic.

See America, Sleepless Lake, and April Chimes showcase Phillips' ability to write a haunting melody, which is something of a lost art. See his Ladies Love Oracle CD for more of the same.

The title track, is probably the least enjoyable tune on the album. It sounds a bit off-kilter, with its minor chords and allusions to war. The other tracks are much less depressing. Spring Released is positively bouyant, as is Beautiful Dreamers. (My grandmother used to play the classic old song Beautiful Dreamer, which GLP deftly incorporates into his own new composition.)

GLP is not trying to push the envelope or pump you up or sermonize. He seeks to entertain, by presenting a little piece of his contempative romantic soul. Treat yourself to some high class pop. Get this album. You can catch glimpses of GLP as the "town troubadour" on the first season of Gilmore Girls, too. That's how I was first introduced to his music.

I lost my first copy of this CD. I can't imagine how. It never left the house. But I had to buy another, because I knew I would miss it. I think you might feel that way about it, too.

I've of course heard of Grant Lee (Buffalo/Phillips)but this was my first purchase, and its been on high rotation ever since. Its just such good, feel good music & I would like to punish myself physically for not having got into this before. This may not even be the best but i will now buy them all on the basis of this album. I love it, seriously, I love it. Don't ask me song titles, the whole album just swings on thru and its starting over and I let it go again, and the whole thing just sounds better and better. I dunno is it Duncan Sheik meets Beck? I guess if it could be better than maybe a studio band with a real live drummer, but I'm being picky. Grant Lee, please include me in your (should be) legions of fans.