Virginia Creeper

Amazon.com
With his third solo release since dissolving Grant Lee Buffalo, one of roots rock's great also-rans, Phillips relishes the relative advantages of the singer-songwriter style. He sketches characters with nuance, tosses off epigrammatic love songs, dives into painterly rural reveries, traces an obscure Southern myth while banging on a banjo, and offers bittersweet praise to friendship. His voice and melodic knack are all the continuity he needs. That voice, a grainy croon distilled from blue-eyed soul and California country cool, remains a prime attraction. If the tasteful, lissome country-folk backing of steel guitar, fiddle, piano, drums, and harmony vocals from Cindy Wasserman is a tad shy of adventurous, the sound suits the ripe, romantic, and dreamy mood of Phillips's songs. --Roy Kasten

Virginia Creeper,Grant-Lee Phillips,Zoe Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Americana,Phillips' latest album, Virginia Creeper, is a stunning collection of resonant story-songs that take the listener to new interior ports of entry.,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

Virginia Creeper

Average customer rating:

You can't go wrong here!
sugar rush
Relief from Mainstream Music
Grant Lee Phillips's Latest Beauty (4.5 stars)
The Mellow Fellow

Virginia Creeper
Grant-Lee Phillips
Manufacturer: Zoe Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mobilize
Nineteeneighties
Ladie's Love Oracle [Bonus Track]
Strangelet
Storm Hymnal: Gems from the Vault of Grant Lee Buffalo

ASIN: B00019JQ1Y
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Tracks:

Mona Lisa
Walking Memory
Lily-A-Passion
Dirty Secret
Always Friends
Calamity Jane
Josephine Of The Swamps
Far End Of The Night
Susanna Little
Wish I Knew
Hickory Wind

Amazon.com

With his third solo release since dissolving Grant Lee Buffalo, one of roots rock's great also-rans, Phillips relishes the relative advantages of the singer-songwriter style. He sketches characters with nuance, tosses off epigrammatic love songs, dives into painterly rural reveries, traces an obscure Southern myth while banging on a banjo, and offers bittersweet praise to friendship. His voice and melodic knack are all the continuity he needs. That voice, a grainy croon distilled from blue-eyed soul and California country cool, remains a prime attraction. If the tasteful, lissome country-folk backing of steel guitar, fiddle, piano, drums, and harmony vocals from Cindy Wasserman is a tad shy of adventurous, the sound suits the ripe, romantic, and dreamy mood of Phillips's songs. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

You can't go wrong here!.......2006-07-03

After listening to some jazz, I put this one in the player, and it instantly impressed me. Grant's voice is smooth and assured, and his lyrics have their own hard-won poetic licence. Sure, some older fans have lamented the lack of change they seem to expect from him, but I have to heartily disagree: The mix of instruments with his voice is so relaxing you'll save on the hot water bill. It's a hot tub soothing mixture to the ears. Let it in, and enjoy!

sugar rush.......2006-03-19

I heard "see america" and "mobilize" by grant-lee a few months ago, and I was hooked. Without doing any research I immediately went out and bought the only cd the cd store had, Virginia creeper. Horrors! Dear God, this is the most sickeningly sweet, sentimental cd I've ever heard. It's almost as bad as all those commercial n'sync or country songs aimed at your tender heartstrings -- their one and only purpose. Loved by grandmothers everywhere. However, if you are an adult who doesn't appreciate being manipulated in such a fashion, please avoid this repulsive album! The rest of his stuff might be great, but I'll never know because I've been burned once and I won't make the mistake of wasting my money on his music again. Yeah, he's got a great voice, and it isn't the style of music I object to, it's the cheesy lyrics! It makes me want to vomit.

(I put this under the kid's review because everytime I review they put my real name up for anyone to see. Yeah, anyone heard of online safety? Not amazon, apparently.)

Relief from Mainstream Music.......2005-09-02

I had never heard of Grant-Lee Phillips until a few days ago. Now I'm wondering why he isn't more popular. This guy can sing. If you, like me, are tired of mainstream musicians who have little talent but tons of fame, give this CD a try. It's refreshing to find a true musician who hasn't been swept away by media-hype.

Grant Lee Phillips's Latest Beauty (4.5 stars).......2004-07-22

That Grant Lee Phillips' solo output has not reached the same legendary indie status of his former band, Grant Lee Buffalo, more than a mystery it's a crime.
"Virginia Creeper," his third solo album, may not be as breathtaking as the hushed "Ladies Love's Oracle" nor as adventurous as "Mobilize," but it is worthy of their company.
Phillips is a remarkable songwriter, capable of the utmost intimacy at the drop of a hat, at ease with creating melodies that, before you know it, can give your thoughts its proper music.
The spare accompaniment here is flawless, mainly gorgeous violin and his acoustic guitar, subtle drums and tasteful piano, and some mandolin and steel guitar which tinge most tunes with Country overtones without lacking a Pop sensibility. Tunes like "Making Memory," "Mona Lisa" or "Always Friends" have exquisite arrangements and remind you of what a great singer Phillips is.
In total, this is an album without low points, more likely the kind where everyone may end up with different new favorites.

The Mellow Fellow.......2004-07-10

Grant-Lee's "Mona Lisa" recently appeared on an episode of TV's "Summerland." It's a mellow opener to this fine set. Grant-Lee's voice shines exceptionally well in this stripped-down instrumental setting. "Lily-A-Passion" boasts an original melody with Richard Dodd's lovely cello and a poetic lyric, "She's a piratey soul, full a' vinegar & glitter; She's a song of her own from down the wrong end of the river." My favorite track is "Dirty Secret" with Grant-Lee's airy Nick Drake-like vocal spreading over his slow wistful melody, "From the ballroom you can hear them laughing, pretty maidens & your own Don Juan." "Calamity Jane" may or may not be about Jane Fonda, but the strings flesh out the restless churning melody, "Washed in the tears of the revolution, babe; born in the back of a Studebaker, American-made." "Far End of the Night" is another lyrical masterpiece, "Not a rail to grasp ahold nor a savior there beside, just kept walkin' like Virginia to the surf toward the far end of the night." Gram Parsons is one of country-rock's most interesting characters having launched Emmylou Harris' career, producing two classic LPs after the Flying Burrito Brothers, and then having his corpse kidnapped after his death. Phillips takes his signature song "Hickory Wind" and does it proudly with a great aching vocal that accents the emotional lonliness of the track, "In South Carolina there are many tall pines; I remember the oak tree that we used to climb, but now when I'm lonesome I always pretend that I'm getting the feel of hickory wind." "Virginia Creeper" is an excellent disc that shows Phillips to be a quite mellow fellow and is gorgeous with its lyrical depth and stunning melodies. I might have enjoyed a couple full-throttle fast tempo tunes in the mix, but what's here is excellent. Enjoy!