Liz Phair on her new CD: "If doesn't fit what you need, don't buy it."

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Liz Phair -- still fickle as a cult figure

'Somebody's Miracle' does nothing to quell complaints about her commercial sound.

The New York Times
Posted October 1, 2005



Liz Phair, former crown princess of indie music, has news for all those who wish she would go back to opening up a vein so listeners can feel her pain. She does not feel theirs.

"I don't remember that time as fun or happy," she says, recalling the days in 1993 after she released Exile in Guyville, a gender-bent song-for-song retort to the Rolling Stones' 1972 album, Exile on Main Street. Phair has made four CD's since Exile, and the latest, Somebody's Miracle, will do nothing to quiet critics and fans who suggest she traded mesmerizing musical idiosyncrasy for a more common, commercial sound.

"If you are an old fan and it doesn't fit what you need, don't buy the disc," she says with firmness, but no rancor. "People hang their hopes on you fitting into their CD collection in a way that they have made a space for, but I'm playing a longer game than that."

Phair, 38, has spent the past few years as a pinata for critics. Her last record, self-titled but radio ready, drew particularly visceral criticism. "Hating, I can understand," she said. "I hate stuff too. I can get with that. But some of it is personal and weird. I don't like being approached by people who look at me too intensely, who needed something from me that I didn't have. I don't represent anything. I am just like you and everyone else. I am trying to live my life as best I can."

[jpgray]

1. I never liked her at all

Hooray for me.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

2. I'm one of the people whose needs is not met by the new CD...

...so I will not be buying it.

Thankx. Liz!

:evilgrin:

[Fenris]

3. I have to say Liz fair has never disappointed me.

Because I've always thought she sucks.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

4. More often than not, "critics' favorites" really, really, REALLY suck.

As much as the critics loved it, "Exile In Guyville" was NOT a life-altering CD.

It was a CD.

That's it.

[flamingyouth]

5. But she's so edgy.

Look! See, her shirts are falling down her shoulder! :D

[Fenris]

6. I get it. She likes sex. We ALL get it.

Now make some decent fucking music, cumbucket! x(

[Misunderestimator]

8. doh

[Fenris]

9. What are you blinking at?

;)

[mvd]

7. I'll be buying it

And I'm glad she's doing what she wants. I liked the self-titled, but the new one sounds better. And Exile In Guyville IS a groundbreaking CD.