Track Listing

1. See America
2. Humankind
3. Love's A Mystery
4. Sadness Soot
5. We All Get A Taste
6. Spring Released
7. Lazily Drowning
8. Like A Lover
9. Mobilize
10. Beatiful Dreamers
11. Sleepless Lake
12. April Chimes

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101453 in Music
• Released on: 2005-04-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Mobilise is Grant-Lee Phillips' first solo outing following the demise of his nearly eponymous band Grant Lee Buffalo, with whom he made four tremendous albums. It is the safest possible assumption that the only thing fans of Grant Lee Buffalo--and fans of intelligent, passionate and unashamedly epic rock & roll in general--will want from Phillips' solo career is that it sounds as much like Grant Lee Buffalo as possible. The news is all good: despite the impression created by the cover portrait, in which Phillips appears dressed as Napoleon, he has by no means parted company with the plot, his marbles or the recollection of what he was good at. Mobilise is a Grant Lee Buffalo album in all but name.

Opening track, "See America", sounds almost like a calculated reassurance: a road-movie lyric reminiscent of Grant Lee Buffalo's "Jupiter & Teardrop", and the same Phillips falsetto deployed to such memorable effect on "Mockingbirds". The rest of the album finds Phillips on peak form, especially the ferocious Waterboys-ish title track and the lovely nostalgic reverie "Beautiful Dreamers". It's like he never went away, but his return is nonetheless welcome for that. --Andrew Mueller

CD Description
Second solo album from the former frontman and songwriter for Grant Lee Buffalo, following on from his solo debut, the sparse and acoustic 'Ladies Love Oracle' which was never given an official UK release. 'Mobilize', while maintaining theintimate feel of it's predecessor, is a much more lush and complex set. Features the single 'Spring Released'.

Customer Reviews

Grant-Lee takes you on a dream like tour of his America.
Grant- Lee Phillips,the song writer and driving force behind the tragically under rated Grant-Lee Buffalo,has now added his dream like new album 'Mobilize' to his impressive C.V.
Grant-Lee'ssecond solo album further develops the atmosphere of his first solo album 'Ladies love Oracle'.
The range of styles and tempos on the album takes you from the 'Bowie- Space Oddity' like 'See America ' to the superbly layered 'Love's a Mystery' to the blues and gospel influenced 'Like a Lover';and to the up tempo,almost dance paced,'Spring released'.The title track 'Mobilize' shows Grant-Lee's harder edge and is very much in the mould of Grant-Lee Buffalo's last album 'Jubilee'.
'Mobilize' takes you on a journey through the cities ,small towns and back waters of Grant-Lee's America.You return from your travels felling lifted ,emotionally challenged and wanting more.
Martin Rose.

The Buffalo Returns
Grant Lee Phillips is without question one of America's finest songwriting talents. Having released four critically acclaimed records with the late Grant Lee Buffalo, this, his first full length solo release finds him in blistering form.

Less guitar-oriented than his previous output, 'Mobilize' blends highly danceable rhythms with well-crafted songs and wonderfully structured melodies. As with all the most durable albums, this one takes a few listens but it's well worth the wait. From the mid-tempo opener 'See America' and 'Like A Lover' to potential singles 'Humankind', 'Sadness Soot' and 'Spring Released', the album grips you and doesn't let go, there simply isn't a weak track to be found.

Largely upbeat and radio-friendly, 'Mobilize' should deliver Philips a new audience whilst retaining the core Buffalo support. Simply outstanding, and one of the most uplifting, surprising and wonderful records of the year.

Bliss for the 21st Century
I bought this album only recently and seriously regretted it. Not buying it, but leaving it so long because I don't think I'll open my lugs to a finer family of songs for quite a few years. Not that I'm cynical about the state of music these days. Well I am, but Grant Lee is one of those rare great songwriter who writes brilliant songs and just doesn't sound like anyone else. A close friend of Michael Stipes (who provides the album photos) he's produced an album that wipes the floor with REMs last two outings. Like REM he's jetisoned the passe big rock sound for 21st century pop shades and colourings creating his own distinct musical muse. He crafts sonic textures that are subtle, rich and biguiling and blends them into his rich melodies to make a real smoothie of a record. The techno-programming only adds further warmth and depth. Every song a classic single and this man is hardly known in this country. The best thing he's done bar none and better than all the rest..including new albums by U2, REM, Radiohead and on a par with Tori Amos's Scarlet's Walk (being a big fan I even find that disfficult to say). It could be David Gray syndrome all over again. One day the world will wake up...