Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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43 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old-school Liz fan who loves this record, July 3, 2003
By A Customer
I've been somewhat psycho about Liz since the week Exile in Guyville came out. I have no desire for her to release the same album over and over, so I welcome this new record for the excellent piece of pop/rock that it is. There are so, so many great vintage Liz songs here, like "It's Sweet," "Take A Look," "Little Digger" "Firewalker," "Love/Hate Transmission" and "My Bionic Eyes." Yeah yeah yeah, the Matrix songs aren't really a lot like old Liz, unless you're enough of a fan to know "Rocket Boy," or to realize that "Jealousy" and "Johnny Feelgood" are really the same kind of songs.Indie rockers, just grow up and admit you love Styx, Cheap Trick and Journey, and allow yourself to love this record too. And don't let some cheap sexism and ageism make you proclaim that songs like "H.W.C." are stupid and embarrassing. If it had appeared on either of Liz's first two albums, it would be proclaimed a subversive masterpiece. Don't be an indiesnob. If you like Liz Phair the album, just let yourself like it!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Give Liz a Phair Chance, June 25, 2003
I suspect that there will be an outrageous backlash against Liz for "selling out" on this album. My answer to those "loyalists" is that Liz's wanting to be a bona-fide star after a decade in the business is her choice to make - not yours. After all, why should less-talenting jokes like Avril Lavigne get paid millions and grace magazine covers while actual songwriters like Liz get relegated to indie status? In my opinion, WhiteChocolateSpaceEgg was a masterpiece - far better than Exile or Whip-Smart. So if you didn't like SpaceEgg, you won't be buying this one anyway. My problem with 'Liz Phair' isn't the production, it's with the many bland choruses. There are some terrific verses in these songs, and some great sounding music, but some of the choruses can be downright hokey. A great example is "Rock Me," in which a promising song is destroyed by an uninspired chorus. What would a Liz Phair CD be without an overtly sexual tune and "H.W.C." delivers in fine fashion. The real hidden gem here is "Little Digger," which will bring tears to your eyes if you have a heart in your chest. For sheer summer candy, I'll take "Why Can't I" over anything on the radio right now. And pay attention to the lyrics, because it's classic Liz through and through. Maybe the sound has changed, but so has she, and so have all of us. This album will grow on you, and it's pretty consistent from start to finish. Overall, this is a slightly above-average album, but it's certainly not bad. Sure, the glossy production renders even the lesser songs radio-friendly, but this is Liz's shot at stardom and as a long-time fan, here's hoping she gets it.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
"It's just me, my guitar and a feel...", October 7, 2003
By A Customer
And none of that is left on this album. I love Liz, I've loved all of her albums, even WCSE. And then this came out. I put it in the CD player, and until "Little Digger" I could hardly tell it was even Liz's voice. Those first tracks are completely interchangable with any Michelle Branch/Avril Lavigne/top 40 singer right now.I love it when an artist tries new stuff. Ani Difranco is never afraid to change it up, neither is Beck or Radiohead. None of them get accused of selling out, or selling themselves short. I think it's because even though they are trying something new, they are still being true to themselves. I wish Liz had gone further with what she started in "Little Digger". Only there is the hint of the honesty found in Liz's earlier records. I was interested in what a young woman had to say about her sexuality and societies views on it in Exile, and I'm interested in what a divorced mother has to say about her life now. I wish Liz had realized that. Maybe she will for the next album. But to me, Liz has shown clear signs of selling out--starting with the back-up vocals for Sheryl Crow, to the whole Matrix/Pete Yorn thing to touring with Jason Mraz, to appearing on Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel, to appearing on VH1's "The 70's". It's just embarassing that the person who brought us "Flower" has gone to "HWC". I'll probably buy her next album, because I am still a fan and I do hope that she changes things again, but I won't have the high hopes I did for this one.
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