This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Grant-Lee Phillips fronted one of the more critically acclaimed alt-rock bands of the ’90s. He’s put out more than half a dozen lauded albums. He was even voted Male Vocalist of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine in 1994.
If you still can’t get any attention after all that, there’s nothing more you can do. So you might as well do less. Which is exactly the tack the former Grant Lee Buffalo frontman takes on his mellow third solo outing Virginia Creeper. Stripping away the art-pop electronics and sonic textures that coloured his 2001 effort Mobilize, the singer-guitarist retreats to a stark, understated landscape composed of strummy acoustic guitars, plucky mandolins and sweet violins set to gentle folk-pop grooves. Topped by his earnest, lightly sanded voice, many of the 11 tunes on this 48-minute disc sound a bit like Eddie Vedder jamming with R.E.M. circa Losing My Religion. If nobody pays attention to that, perhaps it’s time to consider other career options.
