Mobilize (Grant-Lee Phillips album)
Encyclopedia
Mobilize is the second album by Grant-Lee Phillips
after the internet release of Ladies Love Oracle. Mobilize was released to great critical acclaim because of its versatility and it showed Phillips' talent on many instruments including a twelve string guitar, piano, bass and horn instruments. Fans of the former Grant Lee Buffalo
trio were surprised by the lack of electric guitar in the album and its softer and more comforting atmosphere.
"See America" uses a repetitive chord progression of acoustic guitar with keyboards and drumming being added after the first verse. a keyboard solo is also added at the very beginning of the song. See America lyrically tells of someone beginning a journey through America, Phillips commented that he drew on personal experience to produce this song. The song is a fan favorite is still played live to this day.
"Humankind" is an electronic song which uses similar chord progression to "See America" but is mainly driven by keyboards and bass.The lyrics are very pessimistic of the worlds people and their attitudes. Humankind was a last minute production which featured sampling of Phillips beating his chest.
"Love's a Mystery" is also keyboard and bass driven, electronic drumming is constant throughout the song and low guitar plucking is heard during the second verse.
"Sadness Soot" is a funk, dance friendly and upbeat song which has become a fan favorite.
"We All Get a Taste" is another electronic keyboard driven song but its vocals are more dramatic and Phillip's vocal range is stretched more than most other tracks on the album. The song makes reference to corrupt journalism and its effects on people. A music video was produced for this track.
"Spring Released" is an electronic guitar driven song with changing moods and once again more stretched vocals. It became the first promotional single and Phillips said of the song:"It's a bouncy little diddy".
"Lazily Drowning" is an acoustic guitar driven ballad which uses low bass drumming which changes mood during the bridge but generally maintains a trance like lullaby mood. The song makes reference to a "voyage of surrender" which the narrator seems to be unwilling to resist to but also unwilling to give in to.
"Like a Lover" uses a large range of instruments as the song goes on whilst the narrator explains the way a lover has captured his heart like no other.
"Mobilize" is the title track of the album and uses dramatic drumming to give a constant mood of war which is explored lyrically as well.
"Beautiful Dreamers" is an upbeat song which uses an ambient string arrangement to create melody and is used in the short instrumental.Phillips uses the song as an example of how Mobilize is more personal than its predecessors.
"Sleepless Lake" is a short acoustic ballad which slowly picks up in mood through its three verses which subside after the line "bluer that the winter wind that howls, on a sleepless lake".
"April Chimes" uses high raspy acoustic guitar during the verses only to make way for piano scales through the chorus and bridge. the lyrics of the song are centered around the end of the journey which started in "See America" suggesting Mobilize might be a concept album.
"Hugo's Theme" is the albums only instrumental track which uses piano and a string and horn arrangement to create a peaceful and comforting sound.
"Sunday Best" is a more upbeat love song which uses simple acoustic guitar chord progression during the verses but erupts into a big band style chorus which uses low piano, horn instruments and electronic drumming along with high vocals. Phillips credits more than just himself and Carmen Rizzo for this song for some of the recording.
Grant-Lee Phillips
Grant-Lee Phillips is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for his versatile voice, intense lyrical narratives and dexterity on the acoustic twelve-string guitar, a style that often sees him compared to Neil Young, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan.- Background :Born in...
after the internet release of Ladies Love Oracle. Mobilize was released to great critical acclaim because of its versatility and it showed Phillips' talent on many instruments including a twelve string guitar, piano, bass and horn instruments. Fans of the former Grant Lee Buffalo
Grant Lee Buffalo
Grant Lee Buffalo is a rock band based in Los Angeles, California, consisting of Grant-Lee Phillips , Paul Kimble and Joey Peters . All three were previously members of another Los Angeles band, Shiva Burlesque.-Career:...
trio were surprised by the lack of electric guitar in the album and its softer and more comforting atmosphere.
Musical and lyrical styles
Mobilize is an unconventional mix of electronic drumming and keyboards with guitars and bass, it's renowned for its upbeat funk songs but also for its dark but comforting ballads. Phillip's versatile vocal range is often quiet and breathy but does pipe up during some of the more dramatic tracks including "Mobilize" and "We all Get a Taste"."See America" uses a repetitive chord progression of acoustic guitar with keyboards and drumming being added after the first verse. a keyboard solo is also added at the very beginning of the song. See America lyrically tells of someone beginning a journey through America, Phillips commented that he drew on personal experience to produce this song. The song is a fan favorite is still played live to this day.
"Humankind" is an electronic song which uses similar chord progression to "See America" but is mainly driven by keyboards and bass.The lyrics are very pessimistic of the worlds people and their attitudes. Humankind was a last minute production which featured sampling of Phillips beating his chest.
"Love's a Mystery" is also keyboard and bass driven, electronic drumming is constant throughout the song and low guitar plucking is heard during the second verse.
"Sadness Soot" is a funk, dance friendly and upbeat song which has become a fan favorite.
"We All Get a Taste" is another electronic keyboard driven song but its vocals are more dramatic and Phillip's vocal range is stretched more than most other tracks on the album. The song makes reference to corrupt journalism and its effects on people. A music video was produced for this track.
"Spring Released" is an electronic guitar driven song with changing moods and once again more stretched vocals. It became the first promotional single and Phillips said of the song:"It's a bouncy little diddy".
"Lazily Drowning" is an acoustic guitar driven ballad which uses low bass drumming which changes mood during the bridge but generally maintains a trance like lullaby mood. The song makes reference to a "voyage of surrender" which the narrator seems to be unwilling to resist to but also unwilling to give in to.
"Like a Lover" uses a large range of instruments as the song goes on whilst the narrator explains the way a lover has captured his heart like no other.
"Mobilize" is the title track of the album and uses dramatic drumming to give a constant mood of war which is explored lyrically as well.
"Beautiful Dreamers" is an upbeat song which uses an ambient string arrangement to create melody and is used in the short instrumental.Phillips uses the song as an example of how Mobilize is more personal than its predecessors.
"Sleepless Lake" is a short acoustic ballad which slowly picks up in mood through its three verses which subside after the line "bluer that the winter wind that howls, on a sleepless lake".
"April Chimes" uses high raspy acoustic guitar during the verses only to make way for piano scales through the chorus and bridge. the lyrics of the song are centered around the end of the journey which started in "See America" suggesting Mobilize might be a concept album.
"Hugo's Theme" is the albums only instrumental track which uses piano and a string and horn arrangement to create a peaceful and comforting sound.
"Sunday Best" is a more upbeat love song which uses simple acoustic guitar chord progression during the verses but erupts into a big band style chorus which uses low piano, horn instruments and electronic drumming along with high vocals. Phillips credits more than just himself and Carmen Rizzo for this song for some of the recording.
Album Artwork
The album artwork of Mobilize is a picture of Phillips dressed in a Napoleon outfit which was taken at a fancy dress party by his wife.Track listing
- "See America" 5:08
- "Humankind" 3:09
- "Love's a Mystery" 4:09
- "Sadness Soot" 4:20
- "We All Get a Taste" 3:54
- "Spring Released" 3:15
- "Lazily Drowning" 4:18
- "Like a Lover" 4:31
- "Mobilize" 4:07
- "Beautiful Dreamers" 4:27
- "Sleepless Lake" 2:50
- "April Chimes" 2:46