Product Description

The California-based trio Grant Lee Buffalo emerged with one of the most confident and accomplished debuts of the 1990swith FUZZY (1993). Singer and lyricist Grant-Lee Phillips paints visions of a mythic America that recall the Band, while the interplay between whomping guitar chords and gentle acoustic sounds is reminiscent of another Canadian import who seems quintessentially American: Neil Young. But with all their classic influences, the group makes their own very individual sound, creating unique, sepia-tinged portraits littered with such images of Americana as the boot of John Wilkes Booth and Jackie Wilson's lonely teardrops.
FUZZY teems with fine songs. The urgent opener "The Shining Hour", makes the most of a simple skiffle beat and a lonely piano as it traipses from the Civil War to Al Capone and back to King Tut.On the plaintive title track, Philips moves from a hushed lower register to an aching, Lennon-esque falsetto in a tale of hurt featuring searing slide guitar. The easygoing story-song "Dixie Drug Store" which sounds like Bob Dylan's "Isis"re-imagined in New Orleans, segues into the snarling "America Snoring". "Stars and Stripes" and "The Hook" are sublime and unsettling gems. A stunning first record.

Track Listing

1. Shining Hour
2. Jupiter And Teardrop
3. Fuzzy
4. Wish You Well
5. Hook
6. Soft Wolf Tread
7. Stars 'n' Stripes
8. Dixie Drugstore
9. America Snoring
10. Grace
11. You Just Have To Be Crazy

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49541 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-04
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Fuzzy, Grant Lee Buffalo's debut album, arrived at a completely inopportune moment, but was all the more timely for that. While what felt like every other band in America was sublimating themselves to the petulant nihilism of grunge, singer/songwriter Grant Lee Phillips and his two bandmates dared to choose hope over despair, and embrace the epic possibilities previously outlined by Springsteen, Dylan and The Band (and since revisited by Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips, reinforcing the idea that GLB might have been onto something). Fuzzy is a wonderful record, possessed of a raging spirit articulated by some ferocious playing and Phillips' versatile voice (on both counts, Fuzzy attracted a lot of comparisons to The Waterboys circa This Is the Sea). The songs went unashamedly after the big American ideas. At a time when admitting you cared enough to be disappointed, as GLB did on "Stars & Stripes" and "America Is Snoring", was profoundly unfashionable, they didn't get half the hearing they deserved. It would be gratifying indeed if the times caught up with Grant Lee Buffalo. --Andrew Mueller

Customer Reviews

I regret I didn't buy this a long time ago
I remember falling in love with the title track when I was still school listening to Mark and Lard on headphones at night when they did the ten o'clock show, but never got around to buying it until last week. The whole album is brilliant and his singing actually reminds me a bit of your woman from Jefferson Airplane the way he seems to be able bend his voice. Why this album isn't more of a classic/must have I don't know.

The Injustice!
I first heard about this album in 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. I liked the sound of it so I bought it on impulse. Wow! I was hooked from the first few bars. I'd never heard anything like it. Its completely original and absolutely brilliant. Its already one of my favourite ever albums. The lyrics are facinating, deep and poignant, the music's totally fresh and new yet surpriningly old sounding and yet Im the only person I know whos heard of them. Ived asked everyone and it doesnt even ring any bells which is a terrible injustice as it deserves to sell millions. Im hoping it'll be re-released with more advertizing or something so more people will see GLP for what they are and recognize Grant Lee Phillips songwriting.

Simply sublime
is the only way to describe this album, the intelligent and poignant lyrics had me hooked from the first time I heard it. I would recommend GLB to anyone whatever their personal taste in music.