Search - Grant-Lee Phillips :: Mobilize

Rhythm + romanticism + melody = Mobilize

Eric J. Anderson | Ankeny, Iowa | 07/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

""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."

Exceptional!

Leanne | NSW Australia | 02/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Was always a big fan of Grant Lee Buffalo, "Jubilee" totally rules, and Grant Lee on his own rocks too!



"Like A Lover" is one of the simplest songs, but conveys so much feeling, it knocks me out everytime I hear it.



"Mobilize" the beat always makes me think of Portishead, such a cool song



"Spring Released" is one of those songs that's timeless. It's like religion to play this track coming into the sunny season.



Do yourself a favour and buy anything of this exceptional musician that you can get your hands on. C'mon Grant Lee, give us another!!"

Grant Lee Genius

Mitchell Howard | Havelock North, NZ | 08/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."