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Virginia Creeper
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Virginia Creeper Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: This is the fourth solo album for the Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter (and occasional Gilmore Girls actor) formerly of the group Grant Lee Buffalo.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Phillips' fragile, tender songs are well suited to his uneasy protagonists. [5 Mar 2004, p.69]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Mojo
    90
    A fabulous, strangely soothing listen. [Feb 2004, p.100]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. PopMatters
    80
    Although Virginia Creeper is a return in some ways to the days of "Dixie Drug Store" and "Lady Godiva and Me", the album is more about refinement than regression, comforting and fresh.
  4. E! Online
    75
    This is smart, literate stuff painted on a rich canvas of pedal steel, ukulele, upright bass, strings and soft drums.
  5. Amazon.com
    70
    If the tasteful, lissome country-folk backing of steel guitar, fiddle, piano, drums, and harmony vocals from Cindy Wasserman is a tad shy of adventurous, the sound suits the ripe, romantic, and dreamy mood of Phillips's songs.
  6. Splendid
    70
    On Virginia Creeper, he shows a sharpened sense of Midwestern melancholy that is really quite appealing, despite the sometimes hackneyed musical arrangements.
  7. Stylus Magazine
    20
    A boringly functional record full of tediously average songwriting.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. markf
    Mar 8, 2004
    8
    This is just about as good as all of Phillips' other work. He still composes beautiful melodies, uses haunting wordplay and often sings This is just about as good as all of Phillips' other work. He still composes beautiful melodies, uses haunting wordplay and often sings in a way which gives you goosebumps. The main difference is the instrumentation seems more americana-ish than anything since Grant Lee Buffalo's "Copperopolis" (by far the band's quietest set.) "Virginia Creeper does use fiddle, cello and viola to beautiful effect, even though most of the songs are on the upbeat side; it's just that the production is lovely but a bit relaxed. If you want to hear Phillips more pumped up, check out "Fuzzy", "Mighty Joe Moon" or "Jubilee." That said, I still love this album.… Expand
  2. BenJ
    Aug 17, 2004
    8
    This record is absolutely gorgeous. Phillips is one of the most melodic singers I think I've ever heard, and this another fabulous This record is absolutely gorgeous. Phillips is one of the most melodic singers I think I've ever heard, and this another fabulous collection of songs. Brilliant.… Expand