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Rating: THE REVIEW
There she is again. We left her just over thirty, with a dazzling debut behind her, a child, and that "Whitechocolatespaceegg" that was quietly rummaging through the pages of late-millennium folk-rock and changing its connotations. Five years later, heavily made-up and unrecognizable, Phair delights in showing herself for what she really is.
This self-titled album, pretending to be a new debut, denies everything good that the blonde from Illinois had done just a few years earlier. And who cares if the team of producers (The Matrix) is the same that launched stars like Avril Lavigne, Lindsay Lohan, and (of course) Britney Spears. Who cares if at 36 we still have to talk about sex for others to talk about us.
There's a thin line that divides provocation from embarrassment. "Exile In Guyville" is provocative, "Liz Phair" is embarrassing. The first single warns us. "Why Can't I?" could have been written by any Lolita taking her first steps under the spotlight of the star system, but "Rock Me" is downright awkward. Because when a woman no longer young sings "I want to be with a guy like you... Just take off my dress... Rock me all night", we are sure that perhaps something in the world is amiss. And not even the chirpy tune of "It's Sweet" is enough to salvage an album that stands as one of the major musical mistakes of recent years. What's left? "Friend Of Mine", where the old Liz is trying to come into the open, and "Love/Hate", which winks at the rock charts. "My Bionic Eyes" wouldn't even deserve to be mentioned, and "H.W.C" (Hot White Cum) could be the soundtrack of a cheerleading reunion singing naked in front of a bonfire.
The only significant improvement is (solely and exclusively) Phair's vocal setting, now perfectly able to effortlessly transition from the contralto that made her famous to much more sophisticated teenage screams ("Favorite"). The album will reach the 27th position on the Billboard top chart, and the author will participate in two film productions. If this was the real goal of Liz Phair, well, unfortunately, we are not given to know. On our part, we can only wait for the return of a great talent that has lost its way.
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Summary by Bot
Liz Phair's self-titled album marks a sharp departure from her acclaimed earlier work. Produced by The Matrix, the album embraces pop-rock but falls into awkward and embarrassing territory. Some vocal improvements are noted, but overall it feels like a misguided attempt to remain relevant. The review longs for a return to her original, provocative style.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Liz Phair
American singer-songwriter who emerged from Chicago’s indie scene in the early 1990s. Broke through with Exile in Guyville (1993), followed by Whip-Smart and whitechocolatespaceegg. Later embraced a pop-oriented sound on the 2003 self-titled album before continuing with further releases.05 Reviews
