Anybody who loves Liz Phair's "Exile in Guyville" knows what she is capable of writing. The album, which was marketed as a song-by-song response to the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Mainstreet", is filled with blunt, clever lyrics that touch on sex, relationships, fame, and friendship.
At the time of its release, there was much talk about lines like "I wanna fuck you like a dog" ("Flower") or "Fuck and Run / Even when I was twelve" ("Fuck and Run"). But those lyrics are tempered with honest feelings of loss and disappointment like "The Divorce Song" and "Dance of the Seven Veils".
Brad Wood's production built on the lo-fi honesty of her home demos while adding a modest amount of professionalism to the arrangements. It was close to perfect and, as it turns out, hard to top.
For her upcoming self-titled album, Phair has teamed up with production team The Matrix, who brought us Avril Lavigne. Imagine what that would sound like... and you'd pretty much nail it. There's no subtlety to the songs that I've heard. It just screams, "look at me, look at me!" It doesn't sound honest.
I look back to when a friend first played "Guyville" for me. I was really into PJ Harvey at the time, thanks to hearing her on John Peel's show when our public radio station played it. My friend commented that Phair "rips PJ a new one."
It didn't quite work out that way, did it? Phair has made mediocre albums since Guyville and is now trying to break into the youth market by imitating somebody half her age. PJ Harvey has always followed her muse. She's changed over time, but only to challenge herself. She has never tried to be the next big thing. She still has her integrity, and she continues to do exactly what she wants...
If Liz Phair fails with her new look and sound, she won't be taken seriously ever again. She will forever be a has-been. It's a shame, because we could really use the honesty of "Exile in Guyville" in 2003.
Article comments
1 - Nigel Richardson
Oh well. I thought her last wretched album was the end of that once promising and initially startling career.
Still, she's got nicer hair than Lavigne....
2 - Eric Olsen
Very nice Keith, my wife will be VERY disappointed.
3 - Keith Hanlon
You know, I didn't like "Whipsmart" that much, but I thought "whitechocalateegg" was a good alterna-pop record. A few duds, but nothing offensive. A good friend of mine HATED it. "It's no Guysville," he would say. I countered, saying, "why would we want another Guysville? She wants to do this, I say fine. She does it well." Why do I suddenly realize what my friend knew all along?
4 - mike
Damn! All those failed bands I've been in over the years; I thought it was because I didn't have any talent or something. Silly me! All I needed was a sexier look. So now I'm going to shave my legs, get a WonderBra, put on a tight fitting mini-skirt, give long interviews to Blender about my favorite fetishes, and--VOILA!!! Multi-platinum CD sales will be mine!
Maybe Liz and I can even do a duet at next year's MTV Music Video Awards.
5 - Keith Hanlon
Granted, if you think Liz is hot, you'll love this photo. But look at the T-Shirt and compare it to the next photo...
Liz Phair
Avril Lavigne
6 - cami
I CANT FIND YOUR ADDRESS ANYWHERE, AND IF I DO FIND IT I HAVE TO PAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7 - Eric Olsen
send it to her through her label - it's free
8 - Sid
I love Liz, it's too bad her writing skills have gone the way of the pet rock, bellbottoms, acid wash jeans.
9 - 001
That isn't Avril Lavigne..
10 - maggie
avril is very beautiful to me !!! she is my no. 1 fan i have a pleny of avrils poster she is so sexy ! and ilove her bec all of her songs is very beautiful........AVRIL IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL FOR ME !!!!!! HER SONGS IS VERY NICE
11 - tell it like it is BITCHES
YOUR ALL FUCKING STUPID!! THIS IS SOOOOO NOT AVRIL LAVIGNE DUMBHEADS THSES GIRLS ARE ALL FAKE AND POSERS!!!! FUCKING RETARDED....
12 - C²
I miss Liz
13 - Lammz
This is the first blog I've ever commented on. That should indicate just how much I wanted to tell most of you how fucking stupid you are. That's not Avril Lavigne in the pic, and the retard claiming to be No. 1 Fan (or rather that Avril is his No. 1 Fan) needs to learn some serious english. I wouldn't even post if my language was that horrible. PS I sincerely hope that english is your 2nd languauge, cuz if not, you were seriously failed by the school system.
Morons
14 - cody
liz is so fucking hot
15 - Brent Black
Liz Phair is nummy!
I can just hear here muffins calling to me through those little pink pannies...
16 - juriemonsta
you guys are being so hard on liz. cut her some slack...
17 - Colin
I thought there were a couple of cracking songs on Whitechocolatespaceegg, Uncle Alvarez and Polyester Bride, be those two to me. I may be showoing my British sensibility but I don't think she's in the same league as Polly, never has been and never will be.
18 - Mark
WhitechocolateSpaceEgg was brilliant. WhipSmart was clever.Exile was crackling with energy. Liz is great.
19 - jonj
I loved whip smart