Fuzzy

Ok

enjoying so far i like his voice and the music behind it even if it is a bit slow and repetitive, not really something i’d listen to again tho

This guy is interesting, sounds a bit like NMH . keeper!

It's a very simple record. Basic acoustic guitar, basic drumming, makes for basic listening and I quite like that. I quite like his voice. Goes well with this alt rock/country thing he's got going on. Faster songs are better than the slower stuff on this. Strumming gets tedious too.

Not as awful as THE XX (what is really?) but still not great. I liked a couple songs (The Shining Hour and Grace- a song that sounded a bit like The Dream Syndicate) a bit and nothing on the album made me wish I was deaf like THE XX did, but I heard nothing that would ever make me want to play this album again. Two stars for not outright sucking like THE XX. CONS: As mediocre as it gets. PROS: They are not THE XX.

picit unalmas, de szép amúgy, még lehet hogy visszatérek

drei bis vier

This album is the perfect representation of early 90s alternative music. Another review compared this to folky Pixies. I can see that. The wiki says this inspired Oasis. I can see that too. I'd compare this to The Jayhawks as well. Overall, a decent summarization of early 90s alt music.

Fuzzy

I was sorely disappointed with this one. None of it was bad but overall it felt like bland alt rock most of the time, and I can't believe I'm saying this as someone who used to hate country, but I just didn't get enough of that country charm from this record

Not very memorable.

Cool melodies, very alt rock. If you had told me this album came out in the early 2000s, I would've believed you.

Pretty forgettable. Not sure what I was meant to find here. Not awful.

Giving a weak Bowie vibe. Very 1990s bar band. Very of it's time. Takes me back to being in the back seat of someone's parent's minivan driving around suburbia. It's a fine example of rock music in a time. I probably won't think of it ever again. I probably won't remember it. If this is your thing, no harm, enjoy.

Meh. This is like super average. 2.5.

Brand new artist for me, but I enjoyed it. Got a bit slow in the second half and dragged a bit, but liked the emotion he put into these songs. 3.5/5 gonna round up as I think I would also enjoy many more tracks from his catalog

Really thought that wasn't going to be my taste but was impressed with the sounds

There were some good moments, but they were too few and far between. I'd love to tell you what they were, but my memory is a little...

This is almost 1 star bad.

not bad, but pretty forgettable. (2.5/5.0)

I surprisingly enjoyed this. I'm pretty sure it was his voice that reeled me in.

Слушайте, а неплохо. Как обычно мой снобистский мозг отверг песни под гитару сначала, а потом вслушался. Альбом погружает в теплую ламповую атмосферу горно-лесного похода (по крайней мере у меня такое было ощущение), по классике хорошо в дорогу и вообще приятная спокойная музыка. Без откровений и без отвращений, звучит как хипстерский инди-фолк. Слушаем такое.

Not bad, but not super exciting. Wish You Well is a pretty good track. I'm not sure I'll go back to these, just not interesting enough.

point0.

was about to throw hands for getting yet another lousy country album but whaddaya kno it's actually quite well done

i mean its good but its also lacking something great

A bit boring although I liked the gentle, americana approach to 90s rock.

Lots of influences blended in, kind of punky raw vocals electric guitar and cookie stuff

Criminally underrated album - and band. Maybe it's the lat-country tag that probably wasn't a big selling point in 1993, but it's more alternative rock than anything else, really. Like a countryfied version of the Pixies or something. Great compositions, it rocks just as much as it's touching. I won't sleep until this one gets all the praise it deserves.

Good album. I don't know if I would've added it to this list myself, but I had a great time.

Well, I find myself to be really surprised by that one. Who would have guess that a fantastic alt-country record was lying just there in 1993? It's melancholic, powerful, heartfelt and sounding very well overall. I loved that one!

Not a bad album. Not my first choice but a decent listen. Can’t quite put my finger on what band it reminds me of which is bugging me. But oh well

Eh? It's fine. No clue why it's be on this list.

5.5/10

2 feels harsh but 3 feels generous idk, it was okay

Some lovely moments

Grateful to have discovered this artist (with a voice that reminds me of someone else so strongly, yet I can't place the name). These songs have a certain grip to them, and I'm eager to revisit the record soon.

I couldn't find anything interesting or engaging about this. Obvious, slightly indie-tinged college radio rock.

I was always aware of this when it was first released, without ever listening to it. There was just so much choice, so little funds back in the days of pre-streaming. I'm pleased that I've finally found it. Fuzzy has an element of Ziggy about it. The guitars crash in and out, with strained vocals. It sounds like a proper album.

Not sure i get this one. It seems pretty forgettable overall.

I like the echo

Another new album and artist. I loved the intensity of the songs.

Oh come on! I’m ready for some really good music.

Iconic cover and title track

didn't do a lot for me, clear to hear the influence on later REM records but the song-writing didn't pull me in

It's alright but not super motivated by it and not likely to go back to it

Pleasantly surprised considering I had no idea who they were, not a bad album at all

This was alright but nothing outstanding

Not bad

First 4 songs are good. The rest is whatever.

90's angst at its best.

2.5

Wasn't sure what this album was offering at first, it's some sort of alternative/grittier country sound. Fine enough, but it was already feeling repetitive about midway through. Just made me want to listen to regular 90's alt rock when it was all said and done.

Passelia taustamusiikkia, muutama ehkä useamminkin kuuntelua kestävä ralli. Ihan ok kokonaisuus.

- lief im Hintergrund und nichts hat es aus dem Hintergrund wirklich hervorgeholt - insgesamt aber entspannt und ganz gut hörbar 2,25/5

Must say the album starts really weak with 'The Shining Hour'. Sets the tone completely wrong for the rest of the album. I thought I was in for a rough ride. I was caught off guard when 'Jupiter and Teardrop' came on and was a big improvement already. 'Fuzzy' comes next and now you know what this album is supposed to sound like. Very good song, hits all my pressure points perfectly. It's very melancholic, and Grant-Lee's voice is really powerful and cuts through the mix perfectly. The rest of the album follows along that melancholic and emotionally loaded trajectory, but never becomes cheesy to me. The album also has a kind of grit, or feeling of almost being a demo version, but without sounding bad at all - quite the contrary. A bit hard to pit my finger on. And I really like Grant's singing, it's powerful and he has great presence. Overall quite pleasantly surprised by this. Never heard it before, but I really liked it and think I'll revisit this album many times in the future.

"The Shining Hour" was an ok start. Then "Jupiter and Teardrop" sounded like it wanted to be David Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" but with a title very clore to "Teardrops of Jupiter". I thought there were quite nice songs here and there like "Wish you Well" but overall it was a very 90s experience (where else would you find the lyrics "I got you on my handycam" repeated over and over again). I can't shake the feeling that this album often tries to be older artist like David Bowie and Velvet Underground. Ups and downs, mid 3.

There are a few good songs on this album, and I’ve always liked the title track. However, the album tends to drag, making it feel much longer than it actually is.

Melancholy moody acoustic indie. A decent listen with believable vocal pathos.

This was fine. Don't think i'd listen to it again.

Wow what a turd of an album. I hated the singers voice, hated the song structures and started wondering how many more songs were on this album somewhere around song #4. Maybe it made more of an impact when it was first released but I’ll be happy if I never have to listen to it again!

To many people’s surprise (or just my dad for that matter, who is the only one who reads my reviews), this album was actually pretty good. His voice reminded me of a mixture of vocals that I like, and despite it being more of a mellow sounding album it was calming and refreshing.

I remember these guys. I remember being a bit bored. It's very 1993 in the sense of not sure what it's trying to be - it sounds nice sonically, but I'm not feeling any bit of it. Bit of a Bowie knockoff on track 2, no? I don't particularly like Bowie. Fuzzy. Yes, I remember this song now. ... or do I? ehh...man I've already forgotten it all after finishing 10 minutes ago. Absolutely inoffensive and completely fine and utterly reverb-washed-boring. On some level it is weird criticizing something that's not "bad" but this is a great anti-example of everything I listen to music for. I felt nothing during this other than an impatience to finish to get to something more dramatic, more exciting, more dynamic, more passionate, more dangerous. More ANYTHING. 4/10 2 stars.

Another band that I had never heard of. Early on in listening to this, I wasn’t too crazy about it, but found that I Iiked it more as it went along. I have a hunch that if I listen to it multiple times, it may grow on me. As it is, I will give it a three.

Never heard of this band before but I enjoyed this album! Some nice songs on here. Very chill 4 ⭐️

Solid singer songwriter Americana. Enjoyable though not massively memorable.

[5/10] Big shrug

Gay

If the dad from Gossip Girl was in a real band, I'm pretty sure it would be Grant Lee Buffalo. Maybe two songs I grooved with, but overall really flat. Please take these lyrics far, far away from because they remind me of being held hostage on a date by a mediocre white guy playing a guitar at me. Also, -1000 points for an absolutely trash band name.

It's a solid album, combining alternative rock dynamics with an Americana twinge. I don't see it as the best album of 1993 though, sorry Michael Stipe. It feels too low-key and subdued to me, even when it rocks out. Nothing really sticks in my head after listening, although it is a pleasant listen. This might be a grower, and I might listen to Grant Lee Buffalo's other albums, but at the moment Fuzzy doesn't particularly stand out to me.

this one is hard to pin down. is it country? is it rock? it’s definitely not upbeat enough to refer to it as rockabilly. wikipedia refers to this album as being “gothic country”, which works, i guess. it’s certainly different and i did enjoy it.

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

Decent album. I think the most interesting song was Stars N'Stripes.

A dour and mysterious album that infuses 90s alt-rock with some country sound. Sometimes a little too serious and mopey, but sometimes quite good. Best song: You Just Have to Be Crazy

One of those "I vaguely remember hearing about these guys back in the 90's" acts that this site seems to have a lot of. Sometimes you get something good, sometimes you get something bad. This is one of the good ones.

Va kje heilt for meg detta

70’s ballady vibe

Ok album

Nope

Day409 - with a name like grant lee buffalo how can it not be cool. listening thirty-two years after its release is seems like it should have had a bigger audience. his sound is similar to the band the waterboys

I enjoyed like REM type music.

I’m so glad we buried this part of the ‘90s so deep that nobody can really find it. I suppose this was seen as some sort of honest antidote to Nirvana and stuff, but it’s tuneless, joyless, and utterly inauthentic in its faux-authenticness. Plus, his voice is terrible. The rocky parts don’t really rock, and the quiet parts have no soul.

Bra rock! Trevliga melodier, välskrivna texter.

3.0

Alright, but more derivative than innovative

Kinda boring in a few parts but overall an interesting album. Would be a 4 but the boring parts drag it down further than the high points raise it up

This is pretty good! I like his voice. The songs are well put together and deliver for the most part. 3.5 rounded down.

I’ve been doing a thing where I let albums accrue and then skim. Maybe I miss some gems but albums like this really validate the theory that maybe 30% of the 1001 albums I HAVE to hear are actually worth a listen

The vocales are charming with enough variety to make this an interesting listening.

Interesting, not really what I expected

Another musician I get mixed up with Nick Cave, Nick Low and Jeff Buckley. It was alright. Pretty much what I expected

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.

Rock, Americana, 1993 -> 3

Liked this one but thought I'd like it more so giving it a 3.

Completely makes sense that the wiki entry is 3 sentences. How is this a significant release? 2.5

Solid album...his best

Aggressively mediocre

I guess one of the minor fun things about this exercise is when you hear an album and go “why is this guy doing a weird shitty David Bowie impression with his voice the whole time” and then you go read about the artist and he says that’s his main uhhhhh “influence” yeah that tracks Grant

this was so much nothing to me

I liked some of the lyrics, just not my cup of tea.

Clean sounds and interesting songs. Some songs are much catchier than others though. Not catchier as in sing-a-long catchy. More along jamming along and wanting to listen to again catchy. I had a good time listening through the album but I don't think I will come back to it anytime soon.

sort of fine but very forgettable

Fuzzy is an acoustic album that is an easy listen. I thought the lyrics were strong, especially for a debut album. Some songs were more forgettable than others. Some songs I was reminded of David Bowie. Bowie of course has more than his fair share of imitators, but Grant Lee Buffalo incorporated some Bowie glam rock aspects while making Fuzzy sound more modern. That modernity is what must have inspired bands like Oasis and R.E.M., because I can definitely hear some Oasis-like music.

I find it interesting that this is categorized as "alternative country" or even "gothic country". It really didn't strike me as that at all and instead sounded much like alternative rock of the 90s that came about in the aftermath of grunge. REM and Oasis both praised this album, for instance, and this album sounds like it would have been an inspiration for both of these albums. Another entry that probably didn't need to be here, but I enjoyed the listen, anyway.

Most of these songs are really good. They are moody and atmospheric with just the right amount of 90s edge. I even considered giving it 5 stars, but the album suffers from a couple of tracks that seem engineered to get radio play and that are far too repetitive ("Jupiter and Teardrop" and "Stars n'Stripes").

Oh wow, an album from the 90s that’s actually good. It must be very chilly in hell and air travel must be a nightmare with all those pigs taking flight. Never heard of this guy before, but I’ll definitely give some of his other stuff a listen after this.

I was wondering for a while, where have I heard of Grant Lee Buffalo before? Turns out I was thinking of former professional goalkeeper Lee Grant. I enjoyed the album.

wasn't the best but no means the worst

I might like it more after a few more listens

good! almost sounds like dream pop or shoegaze in some areas

This is the most stereotypical background music. It's just forgettable lite rock

Pretty good actually. I listened a 2nd time and liked it more. Sounds ahead of its time. Not too surprised it wasn't popular though. No real home in radio heavy early 90s

Good 90s rock

perus jauhannan

Bueno pero no memorable

A nice alt folk rock 90s release that I haven’t heard before. It’s got some Americana vibes with classic 90s acoustic blues rock. Great vocals and a sort of hard to nail down sound in terms of time period as vibes well with the Ryan Adams’s of the world.

Absolutely gut wrenching and heartbreaking and tender and beautiful and INSANELY underrated, how did I not hear this until now?

Serviceable 90s Alt Rock. The Mid tempo songs with the acoustic guitar backed verses' followed by electric guitar backed choruses got a little stale by the end. I thought the singer's vocal were quite strong though. I think my opinion was negatively influenced by the cliche album cover. From now on I will be reviewing them as well. 3 stars.

Way better than I anticipated. Like a younger, better singer, american Neil Young. Idk if he’s actually american or not but hopefully you pick up what Im throwin down. Kinda like a rocky folk and like og to what some like to call Americana now. Solid 4 star.

Interesting and listenable as good energy background music.

Very nice!

Has that distinct 90's alt sound to it with a little less energy. I like the sound pretty well still

-----

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

Yes please!

real good stuff

So this is kind of the problem with 1001 albums to hear before you die. There’s a lot of them and I don’t always have something to write. There’s a lot of good ones and some bad ones that I’m like why are these on there and there’s a lot of middle ground ones. This for me falls under the middle ground level. It’s good but not great.

Wildly underwhelming, honestly. Not sure if there’s anything here I hates, but there certainly wasn’t anything that excited me. I don’t think it’s actually bad, personally, it isn’t for me. 3/5

Hadn't heard of the artist before, didn't expect much, but this was a really nice journey.

This was a pleasant surprise!

Yeah, pretty good this. I had never heard of him, but you can hear that he's very much part of the fuzz/grunge scene from the early 90s. Interesting that old Tory Noel cited this as an influence as well, you definitely get the scuzz of early Oasis through this. Anyway not anything super special, but very nice.

I really disliked this. The overwrought singing style reminds me of some combination of Hunter, Jan from the Offices former assistant, and the kid on the stairs in Animal House who has his guitar destroyed by Bluto. The progressions and melodies aren't particularly interesting, the production sounds good. Wouldn't say this offended me - i could understand how someone may enjoy it. Despite all this, I'm not sure i can argue with Michael Stipe saying it was the best album of 1993... pretty rough year for music.

I admittedly have a pretty low threshold for being annoyed by vague protest songs, but "America Snoring" struck me as a particularly condescending and whiny addition to the genre. The rest of the album is so staunchly 90s it almost sounds like a parody. I hear a LOT of REM in them, little bit of the Pixies (if I'm being generous), maybe some Goo Goo Dolls (if I'm being cruel). The songs are very conventional and formulaic for that era, both in structure ('verse chorus verse chorus bridge, guitar solo that reiterates the vocal hook, chorus chorus';) and in the playing (standard drumming, bass that doubles the root note of whatever open-chord the rhthym guitar is strumming, inexplicably moody singing) The melodies and progressions all feel very basic - which is fine if the song is primarily a vehicle for interesting lyrics (a la leonard cohen, dylan), but I can't say that's the case here. In fact, this album is almost entirely devoid of unusual or interesting decisions. On top of that, I detect a note of preening self-seriousness in the vocal delivery, which is annoying. Does anyone remember the Sopranos episode where Adriana is trying to manage a shitty 90s pop rock band, and Heche tells her 'I just don't hear a hit' ? This band reminds me a lot of them fictional band. That said, some formulas are formulas because they work - Jupiter and Teardrop + Fuzzy both kinda rocked. But it's no surprise at all that, amid so much 90s nostalgia, this album has been lost to history.

Wow, super interesting album. Never heard of Grant Lee Buffalo (full blooded American name lol) Sonically and instrumentation, I loved it. Very nice blend of folk/rock/country. Vocally, Grant Lee sounds like Bono from U2 and Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins. A lot of semi spoken/sung lyrics. Song I liked: Fuzzy, Grace, The Hook 3.5 stars and rounding up to 4

Lead singer's voice sucks

First song was okay, kind of reminded me of Okkervil River but really nothing memorable on the rest of the album.

I was actually not aware of this album until the 1001 Albums You Must Listen To Before You Die generator suggested it to me. It brought the thrill of discovering a hidden (to me) gem and the wonder it evokes. Fuzzy by Grant Lee Buffalo carves a distinctive path of early 90s sound that is a distinctive alternative to grunge while also building on glam rock sounds. The opening licks of Jupiter and Teardrop evoke Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, and its cosmic referents evoke Bowie's sound and imagery while also paying homage to Jackie Wilson and Motown's legacy. Hints of glam rock are peppered throughout without being a derivative reproduction. Shades of Lou Reed are present here, especially in Dixie Drug Store. America Snoring is a piercing analysis and prophetic critique of American culture in the wake of the Rodney King verdict and its aftermath. Unfortuanely, the song is still relevant three decades beyond its release.

Kinda enjoyed it

boring for me. saw on their wiki they described themselves as “uneasy listening”. yea.

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

I heard of this band long ago, but wrote them off based purely on the name. To me it screams country/Americana for which I am not the target audience. Recently I came across the title track "Fuzzy" as a Spotify suggestion and really enjoyed it. I do feel that is the highlight of the album but, overall, a pretty decent listen.

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: 📸🕯️😪 Production : 😐🙂👌 Music: 🎸💔📜 Rating: 🕯️🕯️/5

Pleasant but not outstanding.

Declamatory vocals reminiscent of The Waterboys, guitars and backing vocals drawing from Bowie's glam era with Ronson - ok, but nothing remarkable here at all

Quality album.

An interesting collection, displaying a wide variety of styles and influences. ranging from Bowie, Warren Zevon and Jeff Buckley to Americana. Most tracks are listenable, but not many classics

There’s an oppressiveness to this album that put me off initially, it reminds me a little bit of Leonard Cohen’s darker stuff, but without the moral complexity and level of self hatred, or like a more critically acceptable Goo Goo Dolls (complete with an equally silly name,) or like if Peter Buck or R.E.M. couldn’t pick. I didn’t dislike Fuzzy at all, especially the second time I listened to it, but it also reminded me of artists I liked better and would honestly rather be listening to. And the oppressive nature of it did grind down on me a bit. I wasn’t planning on drinking tonight, but I am now. I need some sort of release

A fair album, but not that different from dozens of other Americana-Rock flavoured albums. Pleasant, but...

7/10

It was alright

2.5

Grant Lee Buffalo is a band that I've always been aware of, but never spent much time with. Fuzzy gets weirder (and thus better) as it goes along. I suspect their next albums delve deeper into this, assuming major label pressures didn't sand down their edges. Further investigation is warranted.

Very medium

Much better than I anticipated and one I’m actually considering running back

Fine enough but unremarkable and nothing I’ll come back to

A little whiny but still pretty good

Really interesting to hear lot of 90s alt rock sounds from a band you've never heard of before (good name, though). The wiki confirms that they were an influence on more popular acts.

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.

Ik moest even wennen aan de stem. Maar dat lukte me wel. Zo goed zelfs dat ik amper meer luister. Onbewust wel. Want na 20 minuten kijk ik al hoe lang we nog moeten. Dit album biedt een eigen geluid. Dus deze 3 is wellicht niet vergeetbaar. Maar meer sterren kan ik er niet aan geven.

De naam zegt me helemaal niks, terwijl je dat wel zou verwachten aangezien het uit de 90s komt. Als de muziek begint, klinkt het ergens wel bekend. Maar toch doet het geen belletje rinkelen, het geluid is soort van herkenbaar, maar ook wat blikkerig. Dan komt nr3 en dat ken ik gelukkig. Kan ik het toch een beetje plaatsen. Het is een soort alternative rock uit de 90s. Ik snap wel dat dit niet helemaal bij het grote publiek is doorgebroken, net niet catchy genoeg. De stem ligt me net niet lekker, iets te zeurend, ook al heeft het ook een randje schuurpapier. De stem staat ook iets te hard tov de rest van de muziek, het valt er niet in weg, het is niet in harmonie, maar het drukt de muziek juist weg. Wellicht dat het bij anderen beter in de smaak valt, of dat het op een andere dag bij mij beter zou vallen, maar vandaag deed het me weinig. Magere 3.

Had never heard of Grant Lee Buffalo before and ended up quite enjoying this. Unique vocal style and a few really solid songs that made me want to listen on. Shades of Neil Young but also can hear similarities with contemporaries like R.E.M and Smashing Pumpkins. Some of the vocal delivery also reminded me of Lana Del Ray strangely enough. Maybe it's the tone/intonation, who knows?! Highlights are The Hook, America Snoring and You Just Have To Be Crazy.

Kind of a mid-point between Lana Del Rey and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Two artists I already consider quite mid.

Closest thing I’ve heard to an American Radiohead

Not bad, likely won’t listen again

I had America Snoring on an NME compilation CD from the early nineties, so have a soft spot for this. But aside from this its a little like the Waterboys without the folk instrumentation, a little like the Violent Femmes and a little like...well a thousand other alt-indie-Americana bands of the time. Not really doing enough distinctive to justify its place here, though its an easy enough listent.

The first track and the front cover artwork gave really strong Smiths vibes so I was positively inclined. While I enjoyed it, it didn’t fulfill the Strangeways promises of the cover art. I think the bookends of the album are my favourite bits. Jangly indie alt-country. It’s pretty good and worth being saved from oblivion which is where it likely sits for most.

Pleasant enough sound.

Cool that the lead singer is the troubadour in Gilmore Girls, but I wasn’t feeling this album.

Eh, nothing stands out here. 2.75 but rounding down bc ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Nope

I’ve never heard of this album or artist before, and I haven’t done any research into what this album is like, so I’m going in completely blind, with zero expectations. This was a really good album, and a fun discovery. The guitar playing, piano, and vocals on “The Shining Hour” really hooked me in right off the bat. I loved how the backing vocals were really muted, and I enjoyed how the guitar picked up intensity about a minute into the song. The piano playing was great too. “Jupiter and Teardrop” was great too, and I loved that it had that shimmering nineties guitar sound. I enjoyed the title track quite a bit as well, and the first three songs really took me back to that period of adult alternative that was popular on the radio during this time. I see that this album is classified as alternative country, but it had more of a rock sound to me, but I’m no expert. The whole album had a really unique sound that I really enjoyed, and it was bolstered by some guitar playing that was incredibly catchy and fun to listen to. I enjoyed the first half of the album a little more than the second half; “Dixie Drug Store” was kind of grating in my opinion, and it stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of the album. The next person I hear say ‘jambalaya’ is going to get pistol whipped. Overall though, this was a really great discovery, and I’m enjoying getting to listen to all of these albums from the nineties that were never on my radar before.

Never heard of this band or album before. It was ok, nothing outstanding, another one I don't understand why it's here. 2*

Fairly forgettable but pretty enjoyable.

Nisam ovo sluša od 99te i baš me fino vratilo

If David Bowie and T. Rex made me want to kill myself. 2

Underwhelming

Just okay. 4/10

Okay. Nothing special.

Almost there, but not quite. Good vocals, writing, and composition. Not great.

Title track is good, but ultimately it’s pretty generic.

Pretty good. I dug the vibes on this one.

This album isn't bad. It isn't your traditional 90's alt rock. It's like alt rock mixed with Americana or roots rock? It's interesting. Apparently these guys were popular with critics and their musical peers, but never broke through to the mainstream. Michael Stipe of REM stated that this album in particular was the best album of 1993. Favourite songs: The Hook, Soft Wolf Tread, Dixie Drug Store, Fuzzy, The Shining Hour, Jupiter and Teardrop Least favourite songs: Stars N' Stripes 3/5

I find this particular era/style of music to be inoffensive, but rarely ever exciting. Something about the production is distinctively 90s -- its like the vocals are left "raw" but the instrumentals are very clean. Feels like background music for a cool cafe from that time. I actually really like Fuzzy a lot. It feels wonderfully off balance throughout with well-applied affected falsetto. Something in it makes me think of modern indie acts such as Alex G. There are other glimmers of brightness on this album. The Hook is a solid acoustic stomp. Stars n' Stripes is a trudging melancholy number that pulls the falsetto back out effectively along with tasteful slide guitar and bells. Dixie Drug Store is a (relatively) upbeat plonk built around a lulling, deep-throated bass line and following acoustic guitar that is rewarding. America Snoring and Grace both feature compressed production that restrain otherwise climactic electric guitar work. But my resounding impression is that this is largely forgettable 90s indie rock. I doubt I'll be back, but I did enjoy the ride. Very high 3 (like a 7.8).

This album was a perfectly fine album. Good-to-great guitar work. Little bit down tempo, almost country-esque. Otherwise it never really hooked my attention. mid-low 3

Pretty strange genre of country. Some of it was pretty good but was all around kind of cheesy. This is a high 2 because it was kind of boring, but not offensive to my ears at all

Some of these songs sound like that David Gray guy we listened to, except I like this one a whole lot more. Really loved the title track. And boy did it get fuzzy at the end. Album flowed really well and while there were some points I was a little bored, I enjoyed most of the songs above avg.

Very bland, soft rock, with bland singing. In some ways it's nice to have these unpopular choices on the list, it makes me think that the curator(s) of the list put them on out of personal love and passion for the album instead of because of their cultural significance. I didn't like this, though.

Eh, there's better music

Surprisingly, I had never heard of this one. Decent early-90s alternative.

Not an album I was aware of. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. A bit forgettable

Holy mid. Resident sleeper

This is a really good album, but I can understand why it wasn’t embraced by the record-buying public three decades ago. It’s solid but rarely reached greatness for me. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-fuzzy-by-grant-lee-buffalo?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

I liked it. Maybe felt a little repetitive. But overall very enjoyable.

It’s not bad, just didn’t stick out to me

Heard of them, but had never listened. Pretty good - favourite track probably the first one The Shining Hour.

They owe a bit to Bowie, no?

Music played with passion, honesty and simplicity.

solid album. would listen to again. 7/10

The 4est of 4 star albums. A great sound, in fact some of the best sounds the early 90s could offer to lovers of indie and alternative. Yet it needs something more, probably lyrically, to pull it all the way over the top. Favorite song - Dixie Drug Store.

Enjoyed it

enjoyable, but didn't impress me much

Growing up in 90s music I am surprised I had not heard this. Good album and a hidden gem

This album has a kind of Tragically Hip vibe to it. I dig it.

generic and monotonous Favorite tracks: the shining hour, fuzzy

Pretty good

I thought this was a very enjoyable blend of country and alternative. Very good vibe and I'll enjoy listening to it again.

He has a nice rasp to his voice but the music is a little generic. Songs go on too long with nothing changing them up so they become repetitive. 5/10

Surprised by this one, its kind of dad rocky, but with softer intensity and more thoughtful lyrics

It wasn't only America snoring during this record... snoozfest... next

Thoughts before listening: These guys have been on the periphery of my music interests for a long time, but I don't believe I have ever really listened to them. In my mind they are kind of a rootsy take on alternative rock, maybe like the Replacements...but I have no real reason to think this and I may actually be confusing them with Buffalo Tom. Review: This is really good. I was pretty on point with my thoughts about their sound. This is distorted alt-rock but not punk rock. Definitely has a bit of a rootsy, country inspiration to their sound, but this is also not alt-country. This sound is right up my alley so its interesting that this band has remained on my periphery for this long. I have added a few songs to the playlist and am very glad this is on the list (even if its probably not one of the 1,001 albums I must hear before I die). 4-stars

It was decent, but I feel like I have listened to different versions of the same album a dozen times before

инди рок 7.5/10

It’s OK

Some shades of Kurt Vile, Mazzy Star, Cowboy Junkies, etc. (or vice versa....I'm not sure). This is a pleasant enough album: even if his vocal style and the acoustic strumming gets a bit monotonous after a bit. The songs are longer than they need to be, but that's nitpicking. I really enjoyed this music, albeit only 2 tracks at a time. "The Shining Hour" and "Jupiter and the Teardrop" were the two standouts, and ironically, the first two tracks on the album. The other nine were just variation on the same theme. This may be the most negative 3-star review I've ever written.

❤️👍❤️

One of the worst albums I've heard in this project. There's nothing interesting happening lyrically or musically. Whiny and airy vocals and generic folksy songs that are so inoffensive they're almost offensive to the idea that this is an album you should hear before you die (as the project stipulates). Completely skippable and uninteresting

4.0

Première écoute : bof, c'est pas transcendent. Deuxième écoute : ah tiens, ce morceau est pas mal. Troisième écoute : c'est super cool dis donc !Clairement cette petite vibe à la Pearl Jam aura fini par me séduire. Je crois que je me vois donc dans l'obligation de leur donner une bonne note ! (et peut-être de me pencher sur d'autres albums).

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.

Some good songs

8/10, so close to 5 stars and contains two of their best songs (Fuzzy and Stars n Stripes) but the best GLB album, which should have been included, is Mighty Joe Moon (10/10).

Wonderful band, and a lot to enjoy here, with the title track as highlight. Close to 5 stars, which probably would have been secured by the follow-up Mighty Joe Moon.

This is the early 90s, all right. It would make nice driving music.

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.

Not as bad as I thought it was be but still didn't really like it

better than most of the shitty albums on this site, but objectively just ok

Favorite Track: Dixie Drug Store

I listened to it, and after it was done, I can tell you what the album sounds like, but can’t tell you anything about the individual songs. Nothing stood out to me.

This is pretty solid jangle rock. I don’t thing I’ll be revisiting it.

I don't often hear the term Alternative-Country, though this lightly grassroots punky album definitely fits the bill. It sounds exactly like you'd expect the slightly more country, melancholic, early 90's ALT fest would.

Somehow manages to be all over the place and boring at the same time.

Great surprise for any album I have never heard of. The Hook is an ear worm.

An inoffensive unremarkable album.

This was good but doesn’t really stand out amongst other great music.

It was ok.

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.

This feels like I was transported to a coffee shop in the early 90's and have to listen to a guy play grunge-folk for the entire place.

Really good for what it is - I'd probably listen to this again. Nothing spectacular though.

2.8.

I actually kind of liked this. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

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.

Glory glory 90's alt rock

Bändin niimi ja levyn kansi lupaili merkittävsti pahempaa. Parista yrityksestä huolimatta ei tehnyt kummempaa vaikutusta.

Ihan toimiva kokonaisuus. Ei mitään tajunnanräjäyttävää läheskään, mutta kelpoa

Grant Lee Buffalo’s *Fuzzy* is a striking debut album that was released in 1993. Helmed by the multi-talented Grant-Lee Phillips, the album fuses alternative rock with folk, country, and even grunge elements to create a distinctive sound that was both raw and poetic. The album earned praise for its compelling lyrics, versatile instrumentation, and Phillips’ powerful voice, which often oscillates between vulnerability and aggression. In this in-depth review, we will explore the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and legacy, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrical Analysis One of *Fuzzy*’s most distinguishing features is Grant-Lee Phillips' lyrical prowess. He crafts songs that are steeped in imagery, metaphor, and a sense of place. The lyrics often reflect the landscapes of America, both in a geographical and emotional sense. Phillips blends personal narratives with broader social and political commentary, giving his lyrics a timeless quality. The title track, “Fuzzy,” is one of the most lyrically compelling songs on the album. The lyrics seem to reflect on themes of identity, dislocation, and existential uncertainty. “And you will be my Geraldine / I will be your Jim / And those who fail to see / That no one else will be / The one you love,” Phillips sings, invoking mythical characters that speak to personal and collective loss. The surreal, almost dream-like quality of the lyrics suggests a search for meaning in a chaotic world. Similarly, in songs like “Jupiter and Teardrop” and “Wish You Well,” Phillips employs rich metaphors to explore love, longing, and the frailty of human connections. In “Jupiter and Teardrop,” the image of celestial bodies is juxtaposed with intimate human emotion, creating a sense of distance and isolation: "She wears a locket with a picture worn down / She’s a teardrop that’s splashing into Jupiter’s sound." Another standout in terms of lyrical depth is “America Snoring,” where Phillips delves into political territory. Here, he tackles the disillusionment with American politics, conveying a message of societal apathy and the dangers of complacency: "And the conscience cries / For the beast in everyone / The wolf is loose." The imagery of wolves and sleeping citizens paints a dystopian picture of a country that has lost its way. However, there are moments where the lyrics feel somewhat obscure, which could alienate some listeners who prefer direct storytelling. Songs like “The Hook” are cryptic, making it harder for listeners to engage with the song’s message on the first listen. ### Musical Composition and Instrumentation Musically, *Fuzzy* traverses several genres and moods, creating a textured sonic palette. Grant Lee Buffalo blends folk-rock with grunge, country, and psychedelia, crafting an expansive yet intimate sound. The instrumentation is rich and varied, with Phillips himself playing guitar and handling most of the arrangements. The album’s opening track, “The Shining Hour,” sets the tone with a powerful mix of jangly acoustic guitars and electric distortion, anchored by Paul Kimble’s deep, resonant bass lines and Joey Peters’ steady, dynamic drumming. The track showcases the band’s ability to create lush, layered soundscapes that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics. On the title track “Fuzzy,” the music takes a more subdued, melancholic turn. Phillips’ acoustic strumming is paired with a haunting electric guitar riff that spirals in and out of the mix, echoing the ambiguity and introspection of the lyrics. The song’s production, which allows the instrumentation to breathe, contributes to its dreamlike atmosphere. Another standout track in terms of instrumentation is “Jupiter and Teardrop.” The swirling guitars and soft, yet persistent drums provide a spacey, ethereal sound that complements the celestial imagery of the lyrics. The song’s arrangement is intricate yet never overwhelming, and this balance is one of Grant Lee Buffalo’s greatest strengths. The folk influence is palpable throughout the album, particularly in songs like “Dixie Drug Store” and “Grace,” where twangy guitars and acoustic arrangements dominate. “Grace” features delicate fingerpicking and a plaintive vocal performance from Phillips, bringing a sense of vulnerability to the forefront. However, there are some tracks that, while strong on their own, feel slightly out of place within the broader context of the album. “Stars N’ Stripes,” for instance, leans heavily into a rockabilly sound, which, although interesting, feels a bit disjointed compared to the more cohesive folk-rock atmosphere of the album. ### Production Quality The production on *Fuzzy* is both raw and polished, striking a balance between capturing the band’s live energy and crafting a well-defined studio sound. The album was produced by Paul Kimble, the band’s bassist, and this insider approach likely contributed to the cohesiveness of the sound. The production allows the emotional intensity of the performances to shine through. Phillips’ voice, which is often layered with reverb, is the centerpiece of most tracks. His vocal performances range from intimate whispers to impassioned wails, and the production does well to highlight this dynamic range without overpowering the instrumentation. The mixing is clean, allowing each instrument to be heard clearly. The drums, in particular, are well recorded, giving them a punch that adds to the album’s sense of urgency, especially on tracks like “The Shining Hour” and “America Snoring.” However, the production does show its limitations in a few places. On some tracks, particularly those with more complex arrangements like “Jupiter and Teardrop,” the mix can feel slightly cluttered, with certain instruments fighting for space in the sonic landscape. While this doesn’t significantly detract from the overall experience, it does prevent some songs from reaching their full potential in terms of clarity and impact. ### Themes and Concepts At its core, *Fuzzy* is an album about dislocation, both personal and cultural. Phillips’ lyrics often touch on themes of identity, loss, and the search for meaning in a world that seems to be unraveling. This sense of dislocation is mirrored in the music itself, which shifts between genres and moods, creating a sense of instability. One of the most prominent themes on the album is the critique of American culture and politics. In songs like “America Snoring” and “Stars N’ Stripes,” Phillips explores the darker side of American life, focusing on themes of corruption, apathy, and disillusionment. “America Snoring” stands out as a scathing indictment of a society that has lost its way, with Phillips singing, "America is snoring, it’s boring, it’s ignoring all our ways." The theme of personal loss and longing also runs through the album. On tracks like “Fuzzy” and “Jupiter and Teardrop,” Phillips uses metaphor and imagery to explore the fragility of human connections. This emotional undercurrent gives the album a melancholic, introspective quality that resonates on a deeply personal level. The interplay between the personal and the political is one of the album’s greatest strengths. Phillips manages to weave these themes together in a way that feels natural and cohesive, rather than forced or didactic. ### Influence and Legacy While *Fuzzy* did not achieve mainstream success upon its release, it garnered critical acclaim and has since become something of a cult classic. The album’s unique blend of folk, rock, and grunge set it apart from many of its contemporaries, and its influence can be seen in the work of later alternative and indie rock artists. Grant Lee Buffalo’s sound on *Fuzzy* paved the way for a more introspective, lyrically driven approach to alternative rock. Bands like The National and Fleet Foxes, known for their atmospheric soundscapes and poetic lyrics, owe a debt to the groundwork laid by *Fuzzy*. However, the album’s lack of commercial success also highlights its limitations in terms of accessibility. The complexity of the lyrics and the often subdued nature of the music may have made it harder for *Fuzzy* to connect with a broader audience, particularly in the context of the grunge-dominated early '90s. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros: 1. **Lyrical Depth**: Grant-Lee Phillips’ lyrics are rich in metaphor and imagery, giving the album a poetic, introspective quality. 2. **Versatile Instrumentation**: The band’s blend of folk, rock, and country elements creates a dynamic and varied sonic palette. 3. **Vocal Performance**: Phillips’ vocal range and emotional delivery add depth to the album’s themes of dislocation and longing. 4. **Cohesive Themes**: The interplay between personal and political themes gives the album a sense of depth and complexity. 5. **Production**: The raw yet polished production enhances the emotional intensity of the songs, particularly Phillips’ vocals. #### Cons: 1. **Obscure Lyrics**: At times, the cryptic nature of the lyrics can make it difficult for listeners to connect with the songs on a personal level. 2. **Pacing Issues**: Some tracks feel out of place within the broader context of the album, disrupting its overall flow. 3. **Cluttered Mix**: On certain songs, the production can feel slightly cluttered, with instruments fighting for space in the mix. 4. **Limited Accessibility**: The album’s introspective nature and subdued sound may not appeal to listeners looking for more immediate or accessible music. ### Conclusion Grant Lee Buffalo’s *Fuzzy* is a deeply atmospheric and lyrically rich debut that showcases the band’s unique blend of folk, rock, and country influences. The album’s exploration of personal and political themes, combined with its intricate instrumentation and raw production, gives it a timeless quality that has allowed it to endure long after its initial release. While *Fuzzy* may not have achieved mainstream success, its influence on the alternative and indie rock scenes is undeniable . Despite its occasional pacing issues and cryptic lyrics, *Fuzzy* remains a powerful, emotionally resonant album that stands as a testament to Grant-Lee Phillips' songwriting and vocal talent.

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 :)

Surprisingly good

This is not a good album. Generic singer/songwriter music that sounds exceptionally derivative of David Bowie (though a watered down version). 1.5/5 -> 2/5

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

Jeez… could they be any more formulaic and tedious? Yea, they sound a little like Neil Young, but that’s about it. Besides, that’s not really that much of a high water mark in musical genius…. Vapid shite made for sorority girls who want to feel “edgy” but don’t know how

I dig the vibes and instrumentals, not too hot on the writing, I could take it or leave it. Overall very fine.

Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo. And by that I mean I don’t like this album very much

It’s a shame to waste that gorgeous voice on overly repetitive choruses and sometimes caterwauling cries. Good musicians put to waste, too.

Not for me

Seems more influenced by British rock and pop than their other albums. Highlights: "Jupiter and Teardrops" (David Bowie vibes in the singer's phrasing and the wall of guitars backing him up), "Wish You Well" (dramatic vibe with chiming guitars and strident vocals), "You Just Have to Be Crazy" (simple guitar and vocals song) Notable: "Dixie Drug Store" (trying something different with a piano-based song. Maybe a Tom Waits thing based on the lyrics. Well, they tried...)

A little bit boring

ok

A mix of rock-folk and country-folk that is representative of what the early 90’s had to offer, which means it’s just not that good. Hipsters who think they are into politics and wax on about how “both sides are bad” probably love this album. (BTW, the “both sides are bad” are among the most politically ignorant among us)

🥱 not sure what this is doing that it deserves to be on this list?

Enjoy

blandly pleasant

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

Good listening experience, but it didn't stand out enough to me to make me wanna return to it as a whole. Favorites: "Fuzzy", "Stars n' Stripes", "America Snoring"

From the Wikipedia article, I can see that this artist and album influenced many people that I like, but this is just another proof that sometimes it is better to stay away from (bad) influences.

Really dug the Dixie Drug store. Rest was pretty ok too

I thought this started out really strong. I was into it. Jeff Buckley vibes and weirdly at times Radiohead. But then it petered out for me. Lost interest. Came generic and a bit boring

It was good and I loved the voice and genre etc but I don't know why but I got a bit bored. I wonder if the mixing makes it sound less punchy and involved that it should do. A weird one.

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.

Started strong, became very meh

I couldn’t get through this album. This used to be my wheelhouse, but I found this, honestly, lyrically, musically and spiritually, empty. I like to believe that I’m always looking forward and waiting for new things to amaze me - this helps me to see that I’ve moved on past vapid, navel gazing, Yawn Rock.

I remember seeing and selling this when i worked at record stores, but I'm not sure why it never grabbed me then. "Jupiter and Teardrop" is so Bowie but with that extra impactive guitar sound. Loving that track so much. The layers of acoustic and electric guitar work well here. And man, some of these lyrics: "When the earth is ripe All the worms wake up In their stars and stripes And their swastikas" Reading up on the band and on Grant Lee Philips, it blows my mind how much exposure they had without also experiencing mainstream success. Maybe the political lyrics that offer a scathing critique of America had something to do with it? There are country influences here, but not enough of that flavour to nauseate me. It's cool to discover music later than its cultural moment and to love it---so much better than never experiencing it at all! I don't love all of this album, and it's probably not one I'll return to frequently, but it's good and definitely underappreciated.

I had never heard of this album or guy before. He sounds so much like a Ryan Adams on some tracks (the shining hour, you just have to be crazy). I think I need more time for this album to grow on me- at some points I wanted to shut it off but there was something that prevented me from dismissing it completely. The fact that Michael Stipe called it the best album of 1993 means there is something there.

Idk, 90s fringe. Seems like you woulda had to be there. I don't hate it. A generous 2.5

This album is fine, but it reminds me of a guy that's singing at a bar on a Saturday night as background music. 6/10.

Did not love it. Some of the guitar was cool.

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

This album encapsulates the music of 1993. A safer mellower take on on grunge and the 1980s underground sound. Not to say it is a bad album and it has some absolute gems, namely Fuzzy which is perfect in its drawling melancholy.

Pretty good listen 3.5/5

Every song was great! Nothing really stood out about this artist but I did enjoy it - mellow, great guitar.

Can't say this really did anything for me.

Great little tunes, nothing special, but nothing bad

Just not really my speed. Probably wouldn’t throw it on rotation again.

This is probably a 2, but I actually really like the song Jupiter and Teardrop. I have to give a bias whenever the albums have an awesome standout song that I’ll definitely listen to again. Glad to have listened to it!

I was a little more excited for this one than I should have been. Usually I’m a sucker for the singer songwriter/soft rock stuff, and it started out strong, but this one was a little lacking. Great for background music but when you listen to some of the lyrics they don’t work that well (can’t say I’ve ever heard a song start with “oh, jambalaya”). The composition is really what saves it for me, a mood music three.

A whole lot of meh...

3.5★. Tapers after the first three tracks but it’s consistent good, though rarely superlative.

I liked the guitar some, but it's not good enough for this list. 2/5

Gas pack

Hmm, it’s okay. I listened to it while working and it didn’t really catch my attention.

Not bad.

Not for me. Mostly just meh.....

Production is great, strong chords and arrangements, vocals not so much

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.

This shit is so plodding and boring. Every song is so fucking slow and whiny. Awful.

I think the quote on the first song that really stuck with me: It kills me to think, that I'm no longer living just looking for excuses to drink. It hits especially hard coming off of a bender from this past weekend.

Didn’t quite finish