Mobilize

by

Grant-Lee Phillips

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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.

Grant has, perhaps, the best voice in popular music. For that reason alone, I think the album (like his others) deserves more attention than it is likely to garner. On the other hand, as a long time fan I'm dissappointed with what he's done with his voice on every album since Mighty Joe Moon. He sounded uncanny on that album, and on subsequent albums he's simply great. Not exactly scathing criticism, granted, but frustrating all the same. He's more or less abandoned the truly compelling and nuanced baritone that distinguished MJM and Fuzzy. He now vascillates between breathy but high, high, and really high. Still sounds great, but he's dropped the torch I had hoped would pass from Van Morrison. Still, I'll buy every album he cuts to see if he picks it back up, and casual fans should not be discouraged. If you haven't heard him, you're missing out.