Rating: NNN
Yet more case-study fodder for those wondering why talented and well-connected singer/songwriters go no place, Grant-Lee Phillips’s DIY-style Mobilize album contains some of the most creative and engaging work of his career. The tasteful use of sampling and drum machines also makes it sound very contemporary, which never seemed to be much of a concern for Phillips. The problem is that he isn’t the best judge of his own material, and he buries the album’s three best tunes — the ones with genuine chart potential — at the tail end, where they’ll most likely be overlooked. Maybe next time. Grant-Lee Phillips hits the Horseshoe August 30.
