Strangelet

Grant-Lee Phillips is one of the most accomplished songwriters of his generation. After leading the acclaimed group Grant Lee Buffalo, Phillips has now gone on to release five solo albums, 'Strangelet' (his fifth) demonstrates the true range and depth of his abilities.

Described by Grant-Lee Phillips as a "record for strange times," 'Strangelet' packs a deft emotional wallop, delving deep into the inner conflagrations of the soul ("Runaway") and the outer combativeness of human nature ("Chain Lightnin'"), while at the same time revelling in the troubled essence of rock and roll ("Johnny Guitar").

Phillips recorded the bulk of the material alone on his homegrown setup in Los Angeles, on the fly, whenever the urge happened to strike. "I've learned how to coax these things along, to leave it teetering on the edge, how to booby trap my own work so there's bound to be an accident." The end result of this semi-controlled spontaneity is Phillips' most personal and revealing work to date, a conscious exploration of the unconscious, one that sparkles with the honesty and the intimacy of a diary or a sketchbook. The singer agrees. "I've become more and more protective of that moment when an idea pops into your head, when the initial spark contains all the gesture you need, all the implications that are intended."

While Phillips played the majority of instruments on 'Strangelet' (guitars, bass, piano, organ, baritone ukulele, the list goes on and on), guest artists include REM's Peter Buck (8 string ukulele) and Bill Rieflin (drums and percussion) with mixing by S. Husky Hoskulds (Tom Waits, Fantomas, Norah Jones).

"…listening to 'Strangelet' confirms the man sounds as good as ever and remains plenty imaginative."
- All Music Guide