Grant Lee Buffalo's Fuzzy is an album that really surprised me. Up until recently, I had never even heard of this band, and I really feel like I've been missing out. The unique Americana rock sound of this album really blew me away.
The album was released in February 1993 by the label Slash, and was deemed "the best album of the year hands down" by Michael Stipe of R.E.M., who Grant Lee Buffalo were often a support act to.
Everything about this album appeals to me. Some songs have a really laid-back feel to them, which I love, while other songs are more dark and have an alternative sound (which I also love).
Here's the tracklist:
1. The Shining Hour
2. Jupiter and Teardrop
3. Fuzzy
4. Wish You Well
5. The Hook
6. Soft Wolf Tread
7. Stars 'N' Stripes
8. Dixie Drug Store
9. America Snoring
10.Grace
11. You Just Have To Be Crazy
'The Shining Hour' is such an energetic opener. I love it. I'm addicted to it. It's my jam. It's fast-paced with a minor tonality - always a cool combination. The drum beat is catchy and infectious (ok, I don't know much about the drums, but it sounds great to me). The piano riff after the first chorus is so dark yet relaxed; it just makes for some really good listening. The overdriven guitars sound great, and they make the song really edgy too. Overall, it's just a great song. Go listen to it. Go listen now.
'Jupiter and Teardrop' is a nice song. Not as edgy as 'The Shining Hour', but I guess it's not supposed to be. It's a nice acoustic-rock ballad with some nice lyrics. Not much to say on this one, but I like it a lot. It's pleasant, easy-going and is great to listen to on a lazy sunny day (something which is admittedly rare this time of year!).
'Fuzzy' is the title track of the album, and it's beautiful. It was initially the song that hooked me on the album. The melody is haunting, the falsetto in the chorus is heart-rending, and the guitar solos are perfectly emotional. The vocals are great too, and the acoustic guitar gives the entire song a really somber edge.
I think 'Wish You Well' is probably my favourite song on the album. The opening guitar riff that is present throughout the majority of the song is the thing that I love the most about this song. The entire song has this awesome ethereal feel to it, and the guitar riff really contributes to this. The vocals are also great, and the lyrics are really insightful:
Newspaper cloaks to wrap the truth
Propagand-acid dropped on the youth
It's easy to see like pulling a tooth
No one in line in the ballot booth
'The Hook' is a sweet but sad song. Again, not much to say on this one, but it's really nice. The vocals are gentle but also strong in all the right places. It's just a really great acoustic ballad.
'Soft Wolf Tread' is awesome. Just awesome. The lyrics are awesome. The vocals are awesome. It has a great momentum which is aided by the rhythm. It's a rough-sounding song for one that's built around acoustic guitar - but it's a great sound. Definitely one of the highlights of the album.
'Stars 'N' Stripes' is good, but I find it a bit dreary if I'm not in the right mood. It's more depressing than sad, and it doesn't help that it has a very slow tempo. Saying that, I have enjoyed it a lot, just not every single time I listen to it. It has its catchy moments and is still a good song, but it's not one of my favourites.
I love 'Dixie Drug Store'. Admittedly, it took a while for it to grow on me (mainly because the piano riff really annoyed me) but after listening to it a few times, I began to like it a lot more. The lyrics tell a crazy story about superstition and ghosts - it starts off normal enough but just gets stranger and stranger as the song progresses. Sometimes bizarre lyrics can make a song, and this is a prime example.
'America Snoring' is such a feel-good song. It's probably the most catchy song on the album, and definitely a good song to listen to when you wake up in the morning - it always gets my day off to a great start! With the combination of a memorable chorus and an unobtrusive guitar riff and accompaniment, it's a great hit.
'Grace' is a great song to listen to LOUD. Personally, I think it would have made a great closing track (especially given its length) but regardless, it's still a strong addition to the album. It's one of those in-your-face kind of rock songs that still has a really pleasant sound (if that makes sense). As always, the vocals are great, and so is everything else.
'You Just Have To Be Crazy' is, in a way, a nice break from all the craziness of the album (ironically). I find it a bit repetitive, but at the same time it's laid-back, calm, relaxed. Not a bad song overall, but it doesn't stand out too much.
Final Rating: 9/10
My favourite songs: 'The Shining Hour', 'Fuzzy', 'Wish You Well', 'Soft Wolf Tread' and 'America Snoring'.
In my next post, I'll be discussing The Human League's Dare.
997 albums to go!
