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30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mesmerizing debut, March 1, 2000
Since its release, this CD remains as a one of the musical milestones from the 1990s. It topped the lists of many critics, propelled Matador Records further into the big time, and helped open the door for Alanis, Fiona, Meredith Brooks and a hundred other female artists to follow. With a title adapted from an Urge Overkill song ("Goodbye to Guyville" from their 'Stull" EP), this impressive debut was supposedly structured as her song-by-song response to the Rolling Stones' "Exile On Main Street" album. Brad Wood's subtle production brings her sound out of the bedroom without sacrificing the intimacy and honesty of her "Girlysound" days. Several of those songs get updated, including the explicit "F&@k and Run" and "Flower." Pottymouth lyrics aside, the songwriting is outstanding and her quirky guitar riffs perfectly compliment her dry singing style. The subject matter is much more blunt than her later work (where her perspective was changed by marriage and motherhood), and the instrumentation has a stripped-down feel. For those just discovering this album, the freshness of the material will no doubt suffer a bit in the wake of Lilith Fair and the media's "Women In Music" saturation, but it's still superior to a lot of what came after it. Highly recommended.
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40 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the all time great rock albums, November 22, 2000
There are few truly rivetting albums out there, and few artists capable of demanding my attention on first listen. Liz Phair, on her debut album, "Exile in Guyville," is one of that rare breed.I originally sought out this album after reading Rolling Stone's rave review of the album, but was dubious that she could really live up to the hype. I listened, spellbound, the first time through. Then played the CD again. I've worn out mix tapes of her albums, bought multiple versions of her latest CD and built my own little Web shrine to Liz .... Liz's musicianship on this effort is sometimes uneven, her vocal performance hardly revolutionary but her writing ... such songs. Her songs touch the heart, engage the mind and stimulate the ... well, she's gotten a reputation as a pottymouth girl, although she's much, much more. "Divorce Song" rips out your heart and stomps on it with the brutal honesty of how breakups truly feel, "Soap Star Joe" casts a dubious eye at the sensitive dudes who cruise the single scene (not that I was EVER one ... ahem) and, quite frankly, Liz still remembers how to rock. I have not before or since encountered an artist who was able to capture the pain, anxiety and hopefulness of post-collegiate singlehood as Liz did, and "Exile in Guyville" remains one of my perennial favorites. A must-listen for fans of singer-songwriters, rock and roll or women in music. Liz Phair's "Exile in Guyville" is simply one of the all time great rock albums.
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73 of 90 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I can feel it in my bones..., May 24, 2000
his album is a hit-or-miss case. I have friends who can't stand it, and I have friends who love it and claim it in their Top 10 of all time. It's worth listening to just to see where you stand. There isn't much debate about whether or not Liz can sing...she can't. She had to take singing lessons for her latest album. So ignore her voice...its whining, its monotone, it cracks, and it sounds like she was singing in her garage. That's also one of the strong points to those people who loved this album so much. When Liz's voice cracks, its usually because of the emotion in it. That's generous, given she doesn't really show much emotion...but she does deliver angst, longing, despair, guilt, and a little raw hatred. Her lyrics are witty, yet sometimes simple, but what her voice fails to deilver, her words do. Take the warnings of parental advisory seriously...she doesn't edit her feelings at all. It took me a long time to love this album. The songs don't work the first, oh, let's say 10 or so times you hear them. But if you think you hear something in her style, then listen some more. Memorize the songs...because they will grow on you, and infect you, and take you over. This is an ideal album for someone who just got out of a relationship. It runs the full range of emotions about breaking up...longing, hope, anger, guilt, despair, anguish. But ultimately the real charm of this album lies in its simplicity...most of the songs feature Liz as the sole musician. The songs seem as if they were recorded by Liz, her guitar, and a tape recorder (and actually, most of the songs came right from the demo tape that got this album recorded). The production quality may disapoint those looking for a studio-hyped album with richly woven melodies. I personally thought that the power and the charm of the album came from the fact that it was nothing more than Liz, stripped down to nothing but herself and her guitar. You'll either love it or hate it. But those who love it never take it out of their CD players.
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by Liz Phair 
