From: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org (support-system-digest) To: support-system-digest@smoe.org Subject: support-system-digest V6 #65 Reply-To: support-system@smoe.org Sender: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk support-system-digest Friday, March 21 2003 Volume 06 : Number 065 Today's Subjects: ----------------- pitchfork bit [Stephen Griffes ] Pitchfork Article [TitleTK@aol.com] RE;Pitchfork [SHERLY McLACHLAN ] Re: RE;Pitchfork [TitleTK@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 22:26:53 -0500 (EST) From: Stephen Griffes Subject: pitchfork bit from pitchfork: Self-Titled LP, Extended Exile for Liz Phair Preparing for summer tour with soothing music, relaxing massage, and a facial Will Bryant reports: Liz Phair is hatching, Morklike, from her mochaccino-colored space egg this summer to deliver her long-awaited fourth album-- her major-label debut and first release since 1998's |berspotty (and |berlowercase) whitechocolatespaceegg. Capitol Records is currently planning to drop the record, now known simply as Liz Phair, like the mother of all bombs on June 24th. "The album is mixed and mastered," Phair reports in an interview posted on the Mesmerizing fansite, adding that she selected the tracklist and running order for the eponymous record herself. "The songs on the disc are my choices, feel very liberating to me... almost half are technically demos." The fourteen-cut album (thankfully relieved of its Alanis-esque working title Happy Tragic Thing) will include songs from several recording sessions over the past four years, including five recorded with Michael Penn and four collaborations with The Matrix (the super-schlocky trio responsible for Avril Lavigne). The remainder of the album is culled from demos recorded with Phair's whitechocolatespaceegg touring band, and with Pete Yorn (billed as "R. Walt Vincent," presumably to create the impression that those songs were funded and produced by an eccentric millionaire). First single "Why Can't I" will reportedly be shopped to radio in April, and a video is already in the can for album opener and possible follow-up single "Extraordinary". Phair, who by her own estimates has recorded 40-50 songs in the downtime since spaceegg, will also be releasing outtakes from the album sessions via the Internet. "I have always had every intention of including more personal, complex and depressing material through [my official] website to reach longtime fans who will give it the time and consideration it deserves," Phair tells Mesmerizing. "There are so many great tracks that didn't make the record simply because the record was skewing toward the 'rock' side of things." Among the castaways cited by Phair as a personal fave is "She's Gone Crazy", produced by Twin Peaks synthfiend Angelo Badalamenti. Phair debuted "Extraordinary" and another new song, "Hot White Cum", live at a panel discussion last week at SXSW. The latter, described by Austin Chronicle reporter Melanie Haupt as "revolting," is apparently an old school Phair shock-rocker, though its elevation of spooge to "the fountain of youth, the meaning of life," sounds a little forced. Phair also shared the Matrix-produced album version of "Extraordinary", which Haupt characterized as "overproduced to within an inch of its life." But Phair's comments in a post-performance interview with National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences president Neil Portnow smacked of a music-biz brainwashing more thorough than Elizabeth Smart's. On the Matrix (currently writing music for Britney Spears): "Great people! So talented!" On women in rock: "Women artists need to break barriers in order for women's experience to be valuable." (Uh, thanks?) And most tellingly, on the current state of the music biz: "A lot of people who stay indie are very much 'us against them' and caught up in what's cool and what's not. Why paint yourself into a corner?" We think Courtney Love is probably best-equipped to field that one, but allow us to just say: if Don Henley's bitching about the size of the checks, the industry is probably pretty fucked up. And speaking of fucking, running, and cumming, we should also mention that Phair is preparing an expanded tenth-anniversary reissue of her 1993 debut, Exile in Guyville. Due to a legal oversight, the masters apparently reverted to Phair's ownership in 2000 (whoops!), and she hopes to re-release the landmark album this Christmas with "extra special stuff" including a new Brad Wood mix, demos from Phair's still-unreleased "girlysound" tapes, pictures, and extensive interviews covering "the whole Wicker Park story... Urge [Overkill], Hendy, Material Issue, Casey [Rice], Idful, The Rainbow, Johnny Machine, Nasty Steve Albini, etc." In addition to the new album and double-decker Guyville, Phair is expected to tour extensively this summer. "I've put forth the idea that I should tour in an Airstream mobile home, while the rest of the band and crew take a bus," Phair tells Mesmerizing. "I thought it was hilarious, but it went over about as well as my idea-- which I am dead serious about-- to perform with a headset, Janet Jackson-style, so that I can roam around the stage, sit cross-legged, [and] dance around with freedom and impunity." Actually, we understand that Clear Channel has final approval over any prospective choreography, so don't get your hopes up for a Martha Graham-style interpretation of "Flower". ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 22:51:44 EST From: TitleTK@aol.com Subject: Pitchfork Article First off, thanks for the article Stephen . . . Secondly, I think Liz has flipped her wig. I'm totally prepared to believe everything she said in this article was taken out of context . . . but as it is . . . she sounds like a total LA airhead. I know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this . . . but as someone already asked "is it time for an intervention?" I suppose I am close-minded but if anyone can help me see a different way of looking at this . . . I'm all ears. james ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 20:21:27 -0800 (PST) From: SHERLY McLACHLAN Subject: RE;Pitchfork The more I hear the scarrier it gets!!! Just last night I was thinking, I wonder if Liz is trying to pull a Madonna with this White Hot Cum or Hot White Cum. You know like hanging way off the edge just so everybody looks. Radio stations wont even be able to say the title. The video might be interesting, maybe Zalman King can produce it (Red Shoe Diaries). I'm not giving up though because most reporters misconstrude what people say. I will say the way they are making her sound is like she has definantly crossed over to the darkside. LIZ RUN TO THE LIGHT !!!!!! Later SMc Yahoo! Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Mar 2003 23:38:23 EST From: TitleTK@aol.com Subject: Re: RE;Pitchfork I honestly don't know what I'm more nervous about the album or the tour. I remember seeing her play in Chicago shortly after EIG was released, how simple it all was, it was brilliant. Now I do have every intention in believing that there will still be some of that intimacy left . . . I just don't see her perfoming Nashville while sitting cross-legged on the stage with a headset. james ------------------------------ End of support-system-digest V6 #65 ***********************************