Grant Lee Buffalo – Fuzzy (1993)
Unbelievable USA logo by Sarca @ caughtmegaming
USA Artists (so far): Aimee Mann, Marty Robbins, D’Angelo, The Modern Lovers, Bruce Springsteen, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott, Steely Dan, Grant Lee Buffalo
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[Album 487/1001]
The film, Hot Tub Time Machine, probably wasn’t a great movie.
But I do remember a couple of scenes from the movie vividly:
- Perhaps the finest example of “he said the name of the movie IN the movie” that I’ve ever seen.
- The scene below, featuring the repeated whispered line, “Great White Buffalo,” referring to the true, extremely rare, love of one’s life. In this case, sadly for John Cusack’s character, also the one that got away.
.
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For some reason, I struggle to hear the band name, Grant Lee Buffalo, without thinking of John Cusack/Craig Robinson/Rob Corddry whispering, “Great White Buffalo.”
Which begs the question: is Grant Lee Buffalo’s debut album, Fuzzy, as Rob Coddry’s character would call it, A Great White Buffalo, a true 1%-er?
The quick answer is, No.
But the longer, math-ier answer is, Almost, as it may end up being as high as a 2.5%-er.
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Back when I reviewed Röyksopp’s Melody AM, I included this modified Standard Deviation chart, to help me figure out why I was having so many mildly positive responses to albums on the 1001 list.
My conclusion? That I’m inevitably going to feel that way about over two thirds of the album
s on this list; the majority of the records will be decent, but not necessarily life-changing.
I’m not convinced Fuzzy will be one of those exceptionally rare albums (one of the 0.3%) falling beyond the ‘Magical‘ extreme.
However, after months of listening, I’d likely rank this album as better than Really Good.
Meaning, at worst, it would be approaching Stellar, and at best, fall just shy of Magical.
Which are probably loftier adjectives than what most viewers throw around when describing Hot Tub Time Machine.
…..
Verbalize the Positive
I appreciate how Bruce @ VinylConnection hosted the Film Soundtrack Festival over the past two weeks, a fine community-building event. And more personally, I appreciate how he also correctly noted that the 1001 list doesn’t actually represent a random sample, thus making my above graph inherently flawed. That kind of music+math nerdiness is always encouraged ’round here 😀
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- 2Pac – Me Against The World (1995) | 1001albumsin10years
- Harry Nilsson – Nilsson Schmilsson (1971) | 1001albumsin10years
- Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory (2000) | 1001albumsin10years
- Willie Nelson – Stardust (1978) | 1001albumsin10years
- Emmylou Harris – Pieces of the Sky (1975) | 1001albumsin10years
- Randy Newman – Good Old Boys (1974) | 1001albumsin10years
- The Monkees – Headquarters (1967) | 1001albumsin10years
- Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville (1993) | 1001albumsin10years
- The Byrds – Younger than Yesterday (1967) | 1001albumsin10years
- Anita Baker – Rapture (1986) | 1001albumsin10years
- Circle Jerks – Group Sex (1980) | 1001albumsin10years
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1976) | 1001albumsin10years
- Wilco – Being There (1996) | 1001albumsin10years
- Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (1986) | 1001albumsin10years
- 1993 | 1001albumsin10years
1001albumsin10years 
Two thirds within one standard deviation each side sound about right really. Though one would hope a book purporting to be the best 1001 albums ever might reveal a normal curve skewed a little to the right.
One would hope!
I suppose here, the emphasis is on ‘important’ albums rather than ‘best’ albums, so having that left-side tail with not-so-enjoyable albums (that were still somehow culturally significant) would fit
I love this album, Geoff. Love it unreservedly. Really pretty surprised that it’s on the 1001… glad it is, cause it deserves a wider audience. And I’m really glad that you dig it, too.
It was brand new to me this year, based on how much it appealed to me, it’s one of those ones I’m surprised I hadn’t even heard of previously.
By being loved unreservedly, sounds like Fuzzy may even be a 1%-er for you J!
Quite possibly, Geoff. This and Mighty Joe Moon are big albums for me… their influence was pretty huge (even had a short lived project named after MJM). Great albums. If you haven’t heard Mighty Joe Moon I’d highly recommend it.
If it inspires a J project, sold!
Just some trivia to bring to the discussion: Grant Lee Phillips is the town troubadour on Gilmore Girls! Wonder if an album was released of those songs.
I love when trivia is added to the discussion Amrita! I’m curious if he’ll make an appearance on the Netflix continuation of Gilmore Girls
Dunno. But, I’m so excited. His stuff was so good on the show!
Wow, never heard these guys. Now I won’t be rushing right out, but if I happen across it, I wouldn’t say no.
And another Positive message! I am digging these!
They were new to me too – but they come highly recommended by our friend J, and I have faith in the ‘Brain of J!’
Highly recommended by J.? I’m sold.
Is that a Hot Tub Time Machine quote?
That it is!
Need to watch again. Have you seen the Cusack-less sequel?
I have not – although Adam Scott is great on Parks & Rec, I gather Hot Tub 2 is somewhat less great!
I’m assuming so. I think it might be on Netflix. It’s telling that I haven’t bothered to seek it out. Big Cusack fan right here…and Craig Robinson kills me!
Ditto to both for me!
I sure appreciate being a member of the ‘music+math nerdiness’ club. So much warmer than the ‘pain in the ass pedant’ club I’m usually nominated for.
Bruce, I imagine like me, you subscribe to the Groucho Marx philosophy, “I wouldn’t want to be part of any club that would have me as a member” – I appreciate you making the exception for the music+math club!