Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Lemons, May 10, 2006
Glen Phillips' music is not for everyone. Fans of overproduced pop, overwrought and overemoted American Idol-style singing, over-simplified or over-exaggerated song lyrics will find nothing for them here. Glen has built a reputation among his loyal fan base for songwriting that ranges from subtle prodding of one's inner self, to spilling one's insides both beautiful and ugly for all to see. Matched perfectly with a voice that can express a full spectrum of emotion in a single phrase, that songwriting has blossomed through three solo albums, a live disc, and the Mutual Admiration Society collaboration with Nickel Creek.
On "Mr. Lemons", his latest release, Glen Phillips backs away a bit from the shiny pop production of last year's studio-backed "Winter Pays For Summer". "Lemons" is more sparse, closer to one of Glen's solo acoustic shows, and yet it's full of life and the knowledge of all that life brings, both sour and sweet. Songs that depict the ambiguity of relationships -- from the first track "Everything But You", through "I Still Love You" and "Waiting" -- reflect a far deeper understanding of love and its joy and pain than 99% of the fluff that passes for pop love songs. Glen is also not afraid to address death and sorrow, and to find hidden nuggets of hope and happiness amid the sadness and gloom. From "Last Sunset", which is so life-affirming yet acknowledges that life is finite, to the brooding "Marigolds", and culminating in the quietly masterful "A Joyful Noise", Glen shows that he's not afraid to look both death and life in the face. And he's quite willing and adept to look in the mirror and see both the good and the ugly reflected there, as in "Didn't Think You Cared".
A couple of highlights of this album don't fit easy classification: "Thank You" could be a religious hymn of praise or a song of gratitude to a parent, lover, or close friend. And "The Next Day", which speaks of broken promises and resolutions fallen by the wayside, could be taken as a personal assessment or a pointed and quite non-partisan commentary on the state of our world and our society.
Glen Phillips is one of those rare talents that never seem to be appreciated by their contemporaries. He records in relative obscurity and seems content to sell a few thousand copies of each release, play for a few hundred people at a time. It is clear throughout "Mr. Lemons", as it has been in his previous solo work, that he does this because it is what he loves. Perhaps fame and great success would change his outlook -- and Glen deserves at least the chance to find out -- but after hearing "Mr. Lemons" as well as his previous work, I think not. I look forward to hearing his voice and his words for many more years to come.
If you love good music, give Glen Phillips and "Mr. Lemons" a listen. You will not be disappointed.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Phillips has done it again!, May 3, 2006
Glen Phillips has done it again. His latest release Mr. Lemons is a masterpiece that deserves to be in everyone's music collection. The 11 tracks take the listener on a journey through their psyche. From the Toe-tapping "Everything But You", to the hauntingly beautiful " A Joyful Noise" Phillips never ceases to keep the listener entertained, entranced and thankful to be a part of this amazing musical journey.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mr. Lemons, May 8, 2006
Straying from the pop-rock sound that has made him one of the premier singer-songwriters today, Mr. Lemons is the latest (and arguably the best) release from the very talented Glen Phillips. It is a subtle, almost quiet album that showcases Mr Phillips' versatility and depth as a songwriter and musician. Tracks like "Marigolds", "I Didn't Think You Cared" and "Blindsight" prove that sometimes less really is more, while "The Next Day", "Everything But You", and "Waiting" thrive from the melodic brilliance that listeners have come to expect from the former Toad The Wet Sprocket frontman. On an album where heart-thumping bass lines and ear-piercing guitars have been replaced by heart-felt strings and ear-tingling vocals, the not-so-hidden gem is "Thank You". A tribal-like chant that combines simple lyrics with raw, unbridled energy, this tune exemplifies the creative range that Glen Phillips displays with every new release. Simply put, Mr. Lemons is what any intelligent music fan should expect from an equally intelligent artist; an articulate collection of songs that provokes thought, stimulates the soul, and makes you want to tell your friends about it.
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