Fuzzy

No wonder he hears America snoring, this shit is soporific

“Fuzzy” by Grant Lee Buffalo (1993) Never heard of this album or this group. Some innovative instrumentation, but the drums and bass lack the creativity that is evident in guitar and keyboards. Virtually no lead guitar, nearly all acoustic strumming, done competently enough, but it’s monotonous by the end of the album. Melodies are uninspired, necessitated by Lee’s limited vocal range. The lyrics on this album are needlessly opaque. The only interesting cut is the 17-verse “Dixie Drug Store” which tells a coherent story with a not entirely unpredictable twist. But it lacks soul. This entire album barely skims the surface of emotion. We could all pass on this one. 1/5

The album name, cover and everything made me think this was going to be another boring country album, and then that first song hit me with Puzzle Plank Galaxy from hell and I'm like "wait, this might actually be good". And good it was. I had no idea "gay melodramatic alt-country music" was a genre, but turns out I'm a fan. Makes me want to put on black mascara and watch my fuckin' carrots grow, pardner.

Nice enough music, don't really get what makes it a "1001" album though. 5/10

Didn’t make a big impression. Nothing in the lyrics really grabbed me, most of the singing wasn’t very strong, and the music was fine, but not as interesting as the reviews would have led me to believe.

Tepid boiled chicken.

Fuzzy is a perfectly serviceable album, very much of its time with its distinctive early 90s alt.rock vibe and sound. I found it enjoyable enough, but it didn't blow me away.

Meh. This album was alright, but nothing special for me. I would probably listen to it again, but wouldn't recognize the artist as distinctive. I'm not sure if that makes it 2 or 3 stars, but I'll default to 3.

I like this album, it reminds me of a folk version of Pixies.

I really liked this. Interesting sound, sort of alt-country meets Radiohead. Excellent songwriting. 4 stars.

buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo

This was not what I expected. The name made me think it'd be way more country than it was.... In the end it was really solid alternative rock with warm, driving, bounding bass and drums, unreal guitar tones, great piano interludes and an engaging vocal performance. The opener is a belter of an opening track for an album, and leads into a soft spoken tune with chorusey acoustic guitar at the opposite end of the spectrum... It was really good

I didn’t expect it but the album has everything I enjoy and will easily become one of my all time favourites. Grungy 90s vocals, folky tunes, Americana and just a right amount of politics make this a perfect combination of 90s alternative. I love it! Also I feel like there’s not a single filler on it - each song has something that draws me further into them. Hard to pick a favourite track!

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Of its time 90’s alt-rock. Probably one that you had to be there to really love - it’s not bad by any stretch, but doesn’t really offer anything extraordinary or gripping, outside of the occasional overt Bowie or Velvet Underground influence. To be honest, I kept mistaking this for Buffalo Tom, another “you had to be there” 90’s alt-rock group, but the truth is, some of this kind of sounds like early Radiohead… [Ducks to avoid projectiles thrown by angry Radiohead fans] …but that’s probably their due to the shared REM influence.

I was hoping this would be more than just your standard 90s alt/indie rock. There are occasional glimmers with the ragtime piano on the first and 8th track and some interesting 12-string guitar sounds, but that's about it. Not saying it's bad, but just a bit too safe to stand out.

Get this off the list immediately

are Grant Lee Buffalo glam rock? like, maybe i'm overthinking it, but this album borrows all of Bowie's or Bolan's anthemic, post-psych traits (dramatic lyrics, theatrical performances, blazing guitar solos, acoustic guitar on a lot of the songs) and puts it in the context of a Uncle Tupelo era Americana scene, leading people to tag it as the latter without connecting to the dots to the former. i dunno if songs like "Moonage Daydream" and "Jupiter and Teardrop" or "Life's A Gas" and "You Just Have to Be Crazy" share DNA, but dammit, they sound related. Phillips is literally making the same face Bowie is making on "Aladdin Sane". still, maybe it's less a matter of genre and more talent. maybe i hear so many of these influences because the band is just so talented at writing driving, engaging songs. i've known the title track all my life, but somehow, i feel like the rest of the songs -- which i've just heard -- have been there the whole time too. the music has the quality of good, fresh leather, or warm rain on a sunny day. Fuzzy is the album every pick 'n stomp band wants to make; Grant Lee Buffalo are the only band that made it.

Comment donner un avis TOTALEMENT objectif quand je vais parler de l'un de mes albums préférés des années 90, de l'un des albums que j'ai pu écouter des dizaines et des dizaines de fois ? Fuzzi est un disque admirable qui est marqué par des influences folk, americana, noise et classic rock. Mais surtout par la voix de Grant Lee Philips, une voix sombre, parfaite, d'une justesse implacable dans les aigus comme dans les graves. Fuzzi est un disque qui ne vieillit pas ou qui vieillit bien comme le bon vin. Mais à la différence du bon vin, on peut y retourner avec plaisir pour s'y enivrer sans aucune modération. Un disque magnifique, triste et décalé à écouter impérativement au moins une fois dans sa vie. Pour finir, ce sera un beau 5/5 qui est, je l'avoue une note sans aucune objectivité.

Actually quite liked this, good voice, loved the guitar

Ended up enjoying this album far more than I expected. Had never heard of Grant Lee Buffalo, but may start listening to his music regularly.

This kinda sounded like "What if Mazzy Star had a male lead singer?" in places. I enjoyed the cool, mellow listen, but probably wouldn't listen to again. Three stars.

imagine this did very well in UK. can hear where Matt Berry was influenced.

Alt-country, Americana, Alternative rock. Kinda mixed on this album. Like it was mostly good but I didn't really connect with it at all save for like, one song. It was ok, not much I wanna say about it really. 3/5

Fuzzy is a perfectly serviceable album, very much of its time with its distinctive early 90s alt.rock vibe and sound. I found it enjoyable enough, but it didn't blow me away.

Unfair, maybe, but I lump GLB into a big pail of grunge-Americana slop that were never far over the nineties, a bunch that sang as if they were passing a heavy load, some distortion but not many tunes: Afghan Wigs, Buffalo Tom, Giant Sand, Screaming Trees, you know the lot, their commercial apex probably the execrable Ryan Adams, or Pearl Jam at not much of a stretch. There were some interesting off-shoots - I keep meaning to spend more time with Thin White Rope's howling guitars, for example - but not many tunes I can remember. The rockier stuff at the end of "Fuzzy" has definite pulse, but I doubt another five run throughs will reveal any tunes, and having your face on the album cover is rarely a good look.

Wow, this takes me back. The "Grace" of 1993 (Jeff B, not the song on here), in the sense everyone was raving about it and I didn't understand why. Still don't - surely it's just Counting Crows without the skills for a hit song? Listen to The Jayhawks instead if you want some tuneful alt-country-ish background music from this period. Or don't, I won't mind.

Mir fällt nichts originelles dazu ein. Vielleicht, weil das ganze Album nicht besonders originell ist.

With the opening track I thought, "OK, this could be interesting." And then Jupiter and Teardrop...I have a Playlist called Inadvertent Parody. Mr. Roboto is the first track. J&T is the latest addition. The engineering on the album is fantastic; especially the guitar and drum sounds. There are some interesting ideas and soaring moments. But the "songs" seem like they were intended merely as excuses to play music and impress people. It would be forgettable. But at Soft Wolf Tread I started imagining it was a Fred Armisen project with Bill Hader doing the singing. It is SO believable and becomes SO funny, I probably will listen again with that thought in mind to cheer myself up after reading the news.

Ooof. Self important. Insufferable. Dogshit. F

Not outstanding in anyway. Definitely an album that makes me not want to listen to the list for a few days

This is so much my kind of thing that I am surprised I don't know it. This record led me to the second, Mighty Joe Moon, which I might like even better.

Fuzzy is one of those rare debut albums that feels fully formed—ambitious, heartfelt, and sonically rich without ever overreaching. Grant Lee Phillips' voice is a revelation, warm and aching, perfectly suited to the sweeping, cinematic Americana that defines the album. From the haunting title track to the soaring Mockingbirds and the thunderous Dixie Drug Store, every song feels like a dusty epic, grounded in melody but charged with emotion. The arrangements are lush yet gritty, blending folk, rock, and a hint of grunge into something that sounds both timeless and entirely its own. There's a dreamlike quality to it all, but the lyrics cut deep—poetic and vivid without ever turning opaque. Fuzzy isn’t just a strong debut, it’s a near-masterpiece that too often flies under the radar. Stirring, mysterious, and packed with heart, it’s the kind of album that stays with you long after it ends

i really loved this. the lyrics are poignant and the songs were really gorgeous too. i can definitely see myself returning to this album fav tracks: Fuzzy; Wish You Well; Soft Wolf Tread; Stars n' Stripes; Dixie Drug Store; America Snoring

The Good: Fuzzy wuzzy wuzz a bear… The Bad: Fuzzy wuzzy did not care… The Ugly: Thinking about fuzzy being a buffalo… tatazzy… What? The entire portion above is just total weirdness. Yet this album is anything but weirdness… it is greatness! Here I thought I was a connoisseur of all ‘90s independent music, but color me surprised to having discovered something new! And what a bummer… I can just see them back then, in the early ‘90s, just playing a gig here, and getting a great reaction from the crowd, and people thinking “this band is going to go somewhere!”… to fall into oblivion. Now, don’t get me wrong, though really enjoyable, it is a little on the repetitive side, and if you aren’t into their sound, then I can understand that one would skip the album… But I dig it! This is the perfect album for a cold winter night, with plenty of hootch and a nice fire crackling in the background… maybe some good company, old friends? This is going to be an album on my repeat list, second one of the week… so this week is proving to be an enjoyable one for sure for me!!! 5* because I dig it!

Albumi #157, 24.02.2024 Aivan loistavan Grant Lee Buffalon aivan loistava debyyttialbumi

Very nice!

Nick Cave minus the morbid lyrics and dial the baritone back a little bit. Americana style music with story telling lyrics.

Prettige akoestische ballads, met af en toe wat steviger werk. Een soort reserve-U2, dacht ik eerst, maar ik moest ook denken aan Eddie Vedder met zijn Into the wild, ook geen slecht spul toch. Wel dacht ik aanvankelijk dat we met iemand in z'n eentje te maken hadden, niet in het minst omdat we maar één hoofd op de hoes zien. Maar het schijnt een bandje te zijn, dus ik hoef het s-woord (singersongwriter) niet te gebruiken. Hoe dan ook, een bijzonder fijne plaat die ik vaak heb gedraaid deze week. Als kerstcadeautje aan de heren geef ik maar eens een 5 hiervoor.

It's not my usual style of music, but I have loved Jupiter and Teardrop since Trigger Happy TV. The rest of the album isn't as good, but it's still bloody good.

I’ve never heard of this person or album, but Michael Stipes was right- it’s a great album.

I loved this album when it came out, but hadn't listened to it in a while. That's been a mistake - this is a great album. There's an interesting quote on the main Wikipedia page for Grant Lee Buffalo: "The label's constant nagging about "Call-out Response" was both a new term and a bewildering concept to our ears. The basic strategy: a radio station arranges to call up a listener who is asked to consume about 30 songs over the phone, perhaps 20 seconds of each. From this remote encounter, the listener will then proceed to judge the material. Insufficient call-out response was a big reason that Jubilee hardly got a shot at Warners. Grant Lee Buffalo tunes are often like an old car or an old amp that needs a few seconds to get warmed up, but when it does... look out!" I look at some of the reviews for this album here, and see a similar approach. I'm listening to albums I'm not familiar with at least 3 times, putting this website on pause to do so.

Glory glory 90's alt rock

Another uxexpected surprise. You should not believe the average rating, this is quite a pleasure to listen. Second album is good, too! I would give it a 4, but I give it a 5 just to raise the average rating :)

Me ha encantado. No lo concía. Un 5. Es como indie rock.

Enjoy

No THIS is how you make contemporary country. Melancholic, snarling and downright beautiful.

Michael Stipe called Fuzzy the greatest album of 1993. Since its release falls just in between two years of stellar R.E.M. releases, he might actually be right.

A underrated gem of an album, that isn't praised enough to this day. The incredibly moody, yet enticing and hypnotic, title-track is the obvious draw here. But the whole album shines from start to finish. Grant Lee Buffalo borrow folk-rock aesthetics going from the Gun Club, REM (Michael Stipe was a fan, and praised the band back), *Joshua Tree*-era U2, Bruce Springsteen or Kristin Hersh, and effortlessly make all those different influences gel into their own identity. Band leader And songwriter Grant Lee Phillips' suave, expressive voice is a pivotal element of the latter, and transcends any passing "derivative" moment found throughout this charming LP. And the elegant production, here managed by bass player Paul Kimble, hasn't aged a day. The sound is clean, clear, yet also filled with all sorts of rich and warm flourishes. I won't bother singling out any stand-out cuts here, just know that there's not a single dud in the album. 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential" albums, rounded up to 5. 9.5/10 for more general purposes. Number of albums left to review: 80 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 396 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 230 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 295

There have been several pleasant discoveries (to me) while participating in this project, but this has to be the biggest hidden gem so far. I’d never heard of Grant Lee Buffalo, and in reading about them it seems not many people knew about them in the 90’s either. I love everything about this album. Phillip’s vocals are fantastic: I had to double take a few times because he sounds very Bono-esque at times. His falsetto is especially effective when he uses it. The stories are fantastic, especially on Jupiter and Teardrop and Dixie Drug Store, which are also my favorite tracks on the album. The title track is also great, and I think the political tracks of Stars n’ Stripes and America Snoring are effective. Musically it is constantly interesting, and never sounds “samey” despite the limited personal on the album. Every track sounds great and the mix is perfect for this kind of record. No wonder this was Michael Stipe’s favorite record of 1993: it’s a stunning album that would fit nicely beside Automatic for the People in a record collection.

Gas pack

Woooahhhh!!Where the fuck did this come from!! Country meets the Pixies and somehow Fuzzy mighy better than both. Phillips vocals are fantastic, as are his songwriting styles. Fuzzy is tight, yet expansive. The overdriven acoustic guitar gives it a very unique amazing sound. This is a spectacular album 9.2/10

Deserves more listening. Not sure what mood I need to be in though.

I really liked this. Note to self: listen again!

10/10 I don’t know, I feel like I shouldn’t love this as much as I do, but there’s just something about it it’s so good and I don’t know why

Haunting. Warm. Cerebral bass coating the cries of the lead guitar and vocal. Huge energy at the end. Frisson inducing. 10/10 title track.

No nyt kyllä oli kova levy taas. Akustisvetoista, mutta tymäkkää rockia. Tulee vähän Jeff Buckley ja ajoittain Radioheadikin mieleen. Paehaat: Jupiter and Teardrop, The Hook, Grace

Otroligt bra. Starten på albumet, dom första tre är sinnessjukt bra. Det är väl egentligen bara Dixie drug store som inte håller måttet.

Best find yet. Folky/Americana with a heavy grunge influence. So tight

4.7 - I loved this album. I have listened to them a fair bit but not sat down to the whole album. Maybe I just love melancholic music, dunno

Going in to this one blind. The Shining Hour is a good start, this feels in my wheelhouse. I enjoyed Jupiter and Teardrop also. Fuzzy is the starred track on the album, but the slower tempo is doing less for me. The thing this reminds me most of is the inimitable Jeff Buckley (and of course this album predates Grace). Wish You Well chorus is nice. Ha - I just noticed there is a song called Grace on this album too. Soft Wolf Tread probably the least interesting track so far, but I like Stars N' Stripes for sure. MURICA. You Just Have To Be Crazy is fine, but does not really feel to me like the album going out with a bang. I'm leaning towards a 5 here. Whilst the highs are perhaps not as high as I might want in a 5 star album the floor is extremely high. This feels like a very consistent album that I could come back to fully, and I expect get even more out of, so I am going to be optimistic. Fave Tracks: The Shining Hour, Wish You Well, The Hook, Stars N Stripes 4.5/5

Fantastic album, don't have much to add besides that. I loved it. Fuzzy and Wish You Well are real standouts.

Had me hooked from the first song, the vibes of "The Shining Hour" were exactly what I needed today. Mr. Buffalo knew what he was doing with these. I absolutely loved this album. Some songs are so danceable, some are just fantastic to sit and listen to. My favourite was "Dixie Drug Store" (love an aul storyline).

Fucking great!!! Will listen to again

Great!

cool

Me ha encantado. No lo concía. Un 5. Es como indie rock.

I love this album. I still think I generally prefer Mighty Joe Moon, but they're both 5/5 for me.

Really good alt rock, every song was good

I liked this album! I'd never heard of Grant Lee Buffalo before. They sound like a mix of older Neil Young with a little Robbie Robertson in there.

I had forgotten how much I adore this album

I very much enjoyed this album which was a new discovery for me. 4.5/5

Brilliant and really interesting to hear what was going on in the US at a time I was getting into music from the UK. An influence on loads of bands I love you, without actually sounding like any of them. A new favourite for me, and exactly the reason I started this project!

A masterpiece - almost every song is haunting but the title track alone is a juggernaut. I had forgotten this album, and it seems to me even the rest of the world but it is probably objectively one of the best of the 90s decade.

only vaguely had heard of the band. loved the album, right up my alley

It took me a bit to warm up, but warm up I did! This was new music and a new band to me (although I realized I'd seen Grant-Lee Phillips as the troubadour on "Gilmore Girls"). I really liked the acoustic alternative sound. I'd be happy to listen to more!

Good enough to buy after one listen.

Good music. Kind of folk rock.

What you get when you order Bruce Springsteen from a 1910 Sears Catalog.

Grande Trovador! Album maravilhoso! Amei demais! Melhores músicas: Jupiter and Teardrop, Fuzzy e The Hook

Jupiter and Teardrop is one of the best songs ever. This is such a gem of an album.

One of the greatest albums ever recorded. Sublime.

Love almost the entire album! Really clear sound, all of the elements of the music fit perfectly, original topics for the lyrics (at least in many of the songs).

I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Very good 90s alt-rock, a pleasant surprise.

- distinctive strong sound. kinda sad this is the first time I've come across it. - Like a mature Killers - So glad to have this suggested.

YIL about emo-country. Loved it!

Fantastic album

Magnifico

Me ha encantado. No lo concía. Un 5. Es como indie rock.

Awesome probably best album so far

What a gem. So glad I now know about this guy

Never heard it before but surprisingly very good album. Will most likely revisit some songs

When you're 900 albums in and on the homestretch of the 1001 list, you can become a bit indifferent, haven't we heard it all already? I vaguely recall hearing of Grant Lee Buffalo, but had no idea of their music. Took me a bit by surprise, I quite liked it. Good songwriting and performance, gets a bit too somber in places, but a decent Sunday morning listen.

I've been stuck on this album forever trying to decide if I actually like it or if I think it's lame. I've finally decided I like it. It's not the most memorable album, but it's solid. 4/5 Highlights: Fuzzy The Hook America Snoring Grace

not a bad album, but not anything that blew me away. often times the vocalist here sounds like robert plant, which is a compliment. in terms of the time period it was released, i think there are more novel and more interesting albums.

Grant-Lee Phillips has a great voice, the compositions and recording are perfectly complementary for the mystery and depth of the songs. Poetic, but unpretentious (maybe a little pretentious). Bears repeat listening for sure. Saw them live when this came out and it was memorable, really high-energy, dynamic. Excellent band, glad to see this album on the list. Well deserved.

Back in my wheelhouse. I really like this album but its inclusion in the book is mystifying. The album plods along nicely, and it’s fairly standard 90s alternative fare. It’s got a grunge feel, and GLP, lyrics and vocals suit that grunge vibe. If you crossed Neil Young with early Radiohead, this is what you would get. I can see why people find this album bland and/or stodgy because there is nothing that truly excites, or is innovative, which is why I don’t think it should be in the book, but it’s consistent and warm and I will listen to it many more times.

Wow, it's like a male lana del ray in an amazing way! Such a great album!

Not sure how I missed this one completely - its very good! Short lived band I learned...too bad.