Jan 222011
At first I thought the two guys who are quickly cut to a few times in this old Liz Phair video were supposed to be her backing musicians. Maybe that’s the case, but the more I watched this I couldn’t tell if they were pretending to play instruments or not. One guy looks like he’s beating on something, but I don’t see any sticks in his hand. And why are the dudes in a dark room while Liz prances about some safari adventure at Disneyworld?
Can we just cut to the chase and call bullshit on Liz Phair in general? The other day, an aging hipster friend cued up her “Exile…” album to prove how much she didn’t suck (oh, how tired I am of “save” albums in general… but that’s a different thread, I guess) — and boy, was it underwhelming. This chick’s got nothing. I’d make some crack about the empress not wearing any clothes, but a bunch of you would probably get the wrong idea. That right there, I’ve always suspected, is at the root of this woman’s “appeal.”
Would it be wrong to say they’re jerking off with the sound turned down?
Because it it’s wrong, I won’t say that.
IF it’s wrong.
I think you’re correct, sir, so we’ll let that comment stand and advise others to do likewise rather than, as HVB recently had to endure, try to give even this album a second chance.
Yes, although–and it’s been probably 10 years since I listened to it–my recollection is that you could make a pretty good EP out of Exile in Guyville. I remember there being a handful of striking songs, no more and no less.
And those two guys are doing about the same thing Liz’s guitar is doing: just hanging around doing nothing.
Now there’s a good project: make a full album out of the worthwhile EPs culled from both Exile on Main Street and Exile in Guyville!
Man, I wish I still had my copy of this album so I could maybe defend it a little more knowledgeably. One of those CDs that inevitably slip through the cracks after lending it out, moving to different apartments over the years etc. I think my wife has a copy on her iTunes; I’ll have to get her to burn it for me.
As for the interview, it’s probably her producer Brad Wood and maybe another Chicago indie rocker, possibly future former Wilco member Leroy Bach, who played with her around this time.
As to what they’re doing in this video, I’m sure it’s a studied anti-rock gesture — i.e. a meaningless, non-rocking jump shot in an amateurishly arty rock video — this being mid-’90s indie rock. Similar to a lot of Pavement and Yo La Tengo videos from around the same time. Just one of the things I love about rock ‘n’ roll! (14 more things to go!)
I concur, I think they are “going number 3”.
I agree with misterioso’s take on this. They’re were some really good songs on this album (Help Me Mary and 6’1″, for instance), but a lot of filler that hasn’t held up well at all. And of course it was ridiculously over-hyped.
oKay — Tough guys. Please name me a better female fronted indie release from 1993. Put you $$$ where your mouth is. Thanx!
Did Juliana Hatfield’s Hey Babe come out that year? If so, then that. If not, then beats me.
Ha! It’s a year early, but Bettie Serveert’s 1992 debut, Palomine, comes to mind. I bought it in ’93. And if Liz Phair’s 1993 work actually is the best female-fronted indie release of that period, do we really want that to say much about the era’s female-fronted indie releases?
Why must you always ask rhetorical questions?
This isn’t fair. A lot of townspeople have enough trouble as it is coming up with good ’93 releases fronted by man, animal, plant or vegetable. Some even wear this trouble as a badge of pride!
Here’s where we need Berlyant’s list of Top 27 vegetable-fronted releases from 1993!
Would Exile in Guyville qualify?
This is better than any Zep vs. Floyd argument! Exile in Guyville, has some great songs as others have noted . . . and when best albums of the 1990s come up, it always seems to be in the conversation.
So what if she likes short skirts, and is easy on the eyes . . . that’s a bonus. Some other 90s favorites from Liz . . .
Off Whip-Smart
Supernova
Cinco De Mayo
Off Whitechoclatespacegg:
Polyester Bride
Headache
Johnny Feelgood
Sorry to be repetitive, but I thought there were a few good songs on Whip-Smart, too. After that, I lost interest in trying to care. Still, a good album could be assembled from the good songs off her first two records. I think.
I have no idea if they were indie releases but I liked Aimee Mann’s first album and Belly’s second album from around that time. As with the Liz Phair album, I could trim those albums down to about 4 or 5 songs from each, but I like the 4 or 5 songs quite a bit. I’ve always been more of a song guy than an album guy.
Also, that fundraiser/tribute to Victoria Williams featuring all songs written by Ms Williams had some great moments, although I guess she wasn’t really fronting that project.
Here are some of my favorites off her six albums . . .
http://mog.com/playlists/485364
There is something worthwhile on each . . . even 2010’s Funstyle.
definitely not leroy bach. guy in orange shirt is brad wood, striped shirt is casey rice.
liz phair’s music is so awful, it’s surprising that people continue to stick up for her all these years later.
I always liked Exile a lot, though I’m not surprised with the bullshit call on her. In fact, I seem to remember a little backlash not soon after EIG was declared album of the year virtually everywhere in 1993. Indeed her voice is limited and weak, but the hook lies somewhere within that raw confessional bedroom delivery; voice and guitar. And it’s not just because she has a potty mouth, although this was always brought up when discussing the album.
The album could have been much stronger in fact if it had been trimmed down by 4-5 songs. Some of the stronger songs are towards the end of the album, Gunshy, Johnny Sunshine, Stratford on Guy.
I much prefer the simple pop tunes on White Chocolate Space Egg.
The Exile Mafia is not gonna be kind to you!
I know she’s godawful live -possibly one of the worst “professional” musicians I’ve ever heard, but Never Said is a really great song, and that’s more than most people have got.
I forgot about Gunshy – I really like that one, too. Maybe I’ll go buy that album and not care if everyone thinks I listen to crap. I don’t mind, and I can’t really argue against it.
Can I just say that the last thing I intended when posting this thread was a discussion of the music of Liz Phair? Thanks to those of you who’ve raised our collective game with your comments. Keep the good stuff coming.
omigawd! Can I jus’ say that Bettie Serveert “Palomine” is one of the best albums to come out of the ’90’s, period?
Ooh, and both the Bettie Serveert & Liz Phair albums came out on Matador. Should I echo the article that I read recently proclaiming Matador to be the best indie-record label ever?
1993 – The Muffs first album! For my money, the best album of that year by anyone.