Storm Hymnal culls selected tracks from
Grant Lee Buffalo's four studio albums on one disc, with rarities, alternate takes, and B-sides assembled on a second disc. The first disc functions as a sort of greatest-hits, and the band's two best known songs are included,"Fuzzy" (their debut single), and "Mockingbirds," arguably their finest moment. The rarities on Disc Two are sequenced well, and they play like an autumnal statement from the group, who split in 1999. Highlights from the rarities disc include lead singer
Grant Lee Phillips'
John Lennon-esque vocal on"Goodnight John Dee," and the
R.E.M.-sounding "Halloween," a song for the late River Phoenix. Fervent fans of the group will find Disc Two essential, but will probably already have everything on the first disc, making this one of those releases that has too much for the casual listener, and too much redundancy for the already converted. ~ Steve Leggett