Liz Phair: "For The First Time In 15 Years, I Feel Creative"
We're really hoping Liz Phair gives us something more to celebrate this year than her actually-pretty-good music book reviewing. Liz's putting out a new record in June -- her first since the face plant that was her Capitol Records tenure -- on the very same, Dave Matthews co-founded ATO label that put In Rainbows in stores and will do the same for MMJ's anticipated Evil Urges.
Billboard's chat with Phair -- in which she speaks about going from critically beloved indie princess to plastic-y corporate pop pariah, and the 15th anniversary re-release of 1993's classic Exile In Guyville -- certainly reads like smoke signals to folks hoping they can like a Liz Phair album again. And if that's you, a few of these quotes might just give you hope.
Via Billboard:
BILLBOARD: Why did you decide to sign with ATO for the re-release of "Guyville" and your new record?
LIZ PHAIR: I missed being on an indie. I never wanted to go to a major in the first place, but Matador basically sold me to Capitol, and when they divested, I was left there. It has been a long time since I could do what I wanted. When I was on Capitol, I tried to adapt and make the best of it, but I can honestly say, for the first time in 15 years, I feel creative. I don't have to start with a mindset that thinks about how to sell the record and works backward.
BB:Why did you decide to kick off the deal by re-releasing "Exile in Guyville" as opposed to releasing a new album?
LP:The re-release was actually ATO's idea initially, but I did realize that we'd never done the 10th anniversary edition, and it seemed like a good thing to do. I jumped on the idea because I wanted to work on the DVD and revisit the scene that happened around "Guyville" in 1993. I wanted to bring that moment back to life, and it was also a good way for me to establish my independence.
...
BB: Does it ever drive you nuts that even after four more records and 15 years, people keep coming back to "Guyville?"
LP: There was a period where I was frustrated, but much of that came from the fact that I was stuck in the major system and felt like my fans hated me and I was cranky. And now I'm not cranky anymore [laughs]. When I did the first pop record, I have to say it was fun for me. [Then-Capitol president] Andy Slater came in and we just decided to give it a shot. I felt like I had fun and learned a lot, although I certainly would not have made that record had I not been on a major.
She certainly seems to be courting you back to the fold, fand of the old. Which is a different tune than she sang to the NY Times back in '05 on the eve of the release of Somebody's Miracle:
If you are an old fan and it doesn't fit what you need, don't buy the disc. People hang their hopes on you fitting into their CD collection in way that they have made a space for, but I'm playing a longer game than that.
So maybe it wasn't all due to Slater's vision? Well, we know the endorphin rush/conditioned optimism artists wear when promoting a new record, so we won't hold the conflicting paper trail against you, Liz. We are definitely interested, and hopeful, about the new album. Liz also tells Billboard that the forthcoming ATO-released repackaging of Exile In Guyville will come with three bonus tracks, some Alan Light-penned liner notes, and mercifully, no "Fuck and Run '08" remixes.
Posted at 2:37 PM
Tags: Liz Phair
If her new album contains one song as good as Flower (or anything on Guyville, for that matter) I'll be happy.
Score = 2
Good to hear that it took only 15 years until she found her inspiration again.
Score = 0
Liz Phair will never win me back, no matter how much cred she tries to reclaim. That Matrix-written pop album destoyed any respect I had for her. On a whim I went and saw her for free at House of Blues in LA which was sponsored by Clairol or Pantene or some other beauty product (where they were actually doing make-overs in between the acts). She came out with one of those Britney Spears headset microphone thingees and vamped her way around the stage in between flatscreen tvs trying to look cool. One song from that album in particular has a chorus that goes "Baby baby baby, you can do me do me do me." prompting my friend to expertly and sardonically quip "Wow. What robot wrote this song?"
Score = -2
Holy crap. And I thought I wanted to bang her before
Score = 1
a sexy robot?
Score = 3
It's sad when an artist forgets what their gifting actually is.
Score = 1
Really, no one cares about Liz Phair anymore. Sure, she's a looker but I think she is pretty much done musically.
Score = -3
"No one cares?" Or you don't care? It's fine that you don't, obviously, but it seems faintly ridiculous and reasoned inductively to conclude no one else still values her songs, just b/c you don't.
Score = 1
Her self-titled disc was nowhere near as awful as the press it got. There's a few gems on that record ("Red Light Fever", "Extraordinary", "Friend Of Mine"); that said, "Somebody's Miracle" was a trainwreck. Can't wait to hear her new stuff, here's hoping she drops the Maroon 5 wannabes that made up her terrible backing band.
Score = 1
I love Liz Phair, but you'd think that she'd have a little more integrity than to blame everything that went wrong with her career artistically on someone else. Of course, I doubt she's giving back any of the shitolad of cash that that awful major gift-wrapped for her. She has something fantastic, raw songs, so it's surprising that over the years she's proven herself to be so dishonest about her failures.
Score = 3
hell. no one makes a life-long career without a miss or two and everyone has to pay the bills. i don't care - really - what she tells herself or anyone else about why she's done what she's done. i'm a fan of her talent, whether or not i love every single song on every single disc.
i saw her live in first ave in minneapolis in '98, and it was one of the best shows i've been to.
and i'm sure i'll buy the new disc with hope, but it certainly won't kill or depress me if i don't end up playing it as often, and as loudly, as i still play guyville.
Score = 3
Wrong, wrong, a million times wrong! Liz has never made a bad album, and is one of our best artists going. Always on point. Exile In Guyville: A; Whip-Smart: B; Whitechocolatespaceegg: A; Liz Phair: B+; Somebody's Miracle (greatly underrated and underappreciated): A-. Go Liz!
Score = 1
For myself, its impossible for me to fault Liz for all the endless listens and enjoyment I've had out of Exile In Guyville. Seriously, if anyone here is ignoring that album due to her current reputation you are really missing out. She's such a strong and clever songwriter. There's no doubt in my mind that Liz is capable of making great music again.
Score = 1
I am from coutry far far away from American continent, - Russia to be exact - and even I know who Liz Phair is. Though I found out about her kinda by accident - by watching Buffy/Spike music video to her song "H.W.C." & boy is that hell of the song. I loved her stuff right away as I started discovering her, Exile in Guyville - really something. She's got that pure-american sound that I adore, her lyrics are truly fantastic, when she's singing about sex it's really hot.
I figure she's a feminist & I respect that a lot. I didn't like her last album & to tell you the truth know jack about whom she hooked up with to do that album & what's the what with the whole 'she sounds like britney - oh my dear lord" - but I think if someone is capable of making something really good (like, say, Guyville) he can always go back to that kind of quality when he wants to.
P.S. Her lyrics is so bald & beautiful - it's the only remedy from shit the stupid tarts singing, like, how they like to be near their boyfriends, 'born to make those boyfriends happy' & give up everything 4 them.
"My skin's getting clear, my hair so bright / all you do is fuck me every day & night" - one of my most favorite lines & now tell me who can put out like that??..
So , I think for those who say they lost respect for Liz I say you should reminisce on what's her particular achievement in the music industry is & reinvent your respect for her.
Score = 1
YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEE
SSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you are so hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Score = -1
Hi,
I like ALL her albums. I started with the last and worked backwards. I like her voice, the songs are good, varied. The first song I heard was in a movie "Suddenly 30", then I heard her version of "Mother's Little Helper" which I thought sounded very good. I got hold of the last album and was hooked. Looking forward to the new one.
jenkos.
PS. I'm over 50.
Score = 1
Russians and old folks care about Liz Phair!!
The whole re-issue thing is sad. "Look! Look at me in my panties! I was a hit in '93!! NO REALLY LOOK AT ME! I haven't done shit for 15 years! I'm the ultimate MILF! LOOOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE1"
so fucking pathetic
Score = -1
I saw her play Guyville live in Boston on Saturday Aug.30th
One of the best shows I've been to. Back in 2003 I almost had a stroke when I heard her single, "Why Can't I" Needless to say, not a fan of the Capital CRAP. But I also assume she had her reasons, and always kept hope that one day she would redeem herself to me...that day was Saturday night!. If the new song she played is a taste of the whole new album, then old school fans are in for a treat!!
She in no way came off as pathetic, nor is the reissue. Nor has she "Not done shit for 15 years". Hell, she completely alienated the majority her original fan base for 5 and now has us itching for MORE of the good stuff!! That's pretty remarkable and fucking GODAMN clever if ya think about it. Plus it's remastered with bonus tracks! How exactly is that pathetic? Not to mention many, many amazing artists reissue CD's.
Score = 0