From: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org (support-system-digest) To: support-system-digest@smoe.org Subject: support-system-digest V8 #138 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 Monday, October 17 2005 Volume 08 : Number 138 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [support-system] Somebody's Miracle reviews (Palm Beach Post / NOW Magazine) [Kenneth Lee Subject: [support-system] Somebody's Miracle reviews (Palm Beach Post / NOW Magazine) From The Palm Beach Post: (http://template.palmbeachpost.com/tgif/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/streeter/) SHE'S A LITTLE BIT POPPY, AND A LITTLE BIT ROCK AND ROLL! I always scratch my head when the music establishment freak out about Liz Phair's supposed selling-out, abandoning the guitar-heavy, explicitly spicy tunes of her "Exile in Guyville" for the more radio-friendly 2003 effort "Liz Phair". Sure, it was lighter, pinker and more accessible. But even the cutesy single "Why Can't I Breathe" hid a sauciness under its bounceyness, and her personal decision as an artist to change musically and commercially tweaked with people mightily. And isn't that what rock is all about? The brand new "Somebody's Miracle" (Capitol) follows down Liz Phair's sunnier-sounding footpath, with boppy beats on tracks like Leap of Innocence and Stars and Planets. But there's still something decidedly grown-up about the lyrics, especially my fave, the jaunty good "kiss my butt"-athon that is "Got My Own Thing." Here's hoping her show on Thursday at Ft. Lauderdale's Revolution is just as awesome. (I saw her play years ago at Lilith Fair, in her rockier incarnation, and she was great. Sure she still is...) Leslie Streeter ***** From NOW Magazine (Toronto): (http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-10-06/music_discs7.php) LIZ PHAIR "Somebody's Miracle" () Rating: N On my original advance copy of "Somebody's Miracle", there's a raunchy, rollicking track called "Can't Get Out Of What I'm Into". The song served as an alibi for Phair's MOR makeover, with subtle lyrical pokes at the industry and music being just a "day job". Blunt and sardonic, it was closer to vintage Phair than anything else on the disc. Imagine my surprise to discover the track had been cut from the finished album and replaced with "Closer To You", a maudlin acoustic ditty about "filling up holes in my soul". I've given up wishing for another "Exile In Guyville", but this is a void of gooey, bland ick, co-produced by John Mayer guru John Alagia and Sheryl Crow/Hilary Duff svengali John Shanks. The sad part isn't just that the album sounds like fluff for folks who think Phair's pal Crow is too edgy, but that the formerly whip-smart songwriter has resorted to penning dross like "With me you'll feel protected / And you'll never be rejected." Yuck. Sarah Liss (Ranking system is NNNN to N.) - -Ken kenmlee@ix.netcom.com MeSmErIzInG - AnOtHeR LiZ PhAiR WeBsItE http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Club/2471/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 15 Oct 2005 21:48:53 -0700 From: Kenneth Lee Subject: [support-system] Somebody's Miracle review (Venus) From Venus: (http://venuszine.com/stories/music_reviews/1446) Liz Phair "Somebody's Miracle" (Capitol) by Charlotte Robinson I've been trying to make myself listen to "Somebody's Miracle" a few more times in order to get into the spirit of the thing and give it a fair and descriptive review. To hell with that. When a music lover with a pretty broad range of taste can barely make it through an album, there's a reason. Former indie-rock queen Liz Phair has described her new album as being more band-oriented than her eponymous 2003 effort, which was roundly panned for its overproduction. While it's not a return to form, "Somebody's Miracle" is nowhere near as obnoxious as its predecessor, and even offers a few good hooks on songs like "Stars and Planets" and "Got My Own Thing". But mostly, the album's just bland. Phair has made it clear she wants to escape the indie ghetto and bring her music to a larger audience. That's fine, and plenty of artists have managed to balance commercial success with a strong artistic vision, but now that Phair is no longer the angst-ridden 26-year-old who created "Exile in Guyville", she seems to have run out of things to say. Take this lame lyric from "Count on My Love", where Phair sounds more like a teenager doodling in a journal than the songwriter who gave us "Divorce Song" or "Polyester Bride": "Blue eyes, bluer than the blue sky / Smiling down like sunshine, everywhere you are." Another clue that Phair's artistic well has run dry is the inclusion of a toned-down version of "Can't Get Out of What I'm Into" from her "Girlysound" demos of roughly 15 years ago. Phair proved with 1998's "whitechocolatespaceegg" that she could bring her humor and insight to more mature material, embellish it with better production, and still turn out an emotionally powerful album. Unfortunately, her subsequent releases haven't lived up to that benchmark. - -Ken kenmlee@ix.netcom.com MeSmErIzInG - AnOtHeR LiZ PhAiR WeBsItE http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Club/2471/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 13:06:35 -0700 From: Kenneth Lee Subject: [support-system] Somebody's Miracle review (Houston Chronicle) From The Houston Chronicle: (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ae/music/albums/3396263) "Somebody's Miracle" by Liz Phair By SARA CRESS "Somebody's Miracle" Liz Phair Capitol 3 stars "I want to bring down all those people who drank with me watching happily my humiliation." That line from "Table for One" speaks louder than any other on Liz Phair's latest album, "Somebody's Miracle". It's not loud, it's not spat out in anger, but it's the line that should resound most to critics of Phair's turnaround from untamed feminist icon of the '90s to slick pop star on 2003's "Liz Phair". The message: I've grown up, I'm tired of destroying myself. "Somebody's Miracle" isn't going to win back the old fans. The songs from this new era of Phair's career are far less provocative than those on her landmark debut, "Exile in Guyville"; they're positively radio-friendly. Fans who may have found "Liz Phair" too objectionable (there was a parental advisory sticker on it, after all) will find "Miracle" more to their liking: no sticker, no curse words. And "Miracle" is pretty likable. The songs have a sincere emotional core. Phair's unmistakable deadpan voice is still there. And thank goodness she's still a little snarky on "Got My Own Thing" ("I'd love to help give you enough rope to hang yourself.'') and "Why I Lie" ("It's a special combination of predatory instinct and simple ill-will.'') Marketed correctly, this album will no doubt end up in many teenage girls' collections. They will adore "Count on my Love", a big old upbeat love song sure to end up on a chick flick soundtrack in the coming months. Of course, the youngsters probably won't relate to (or even recognize) the fears of a divorced mother nearing her forties. Phair's fragility and embarrassment for past mistakes touch nearly every song on "Miracle". "Leap of Innocence" is an ode to a fantastic, doomed affair; "Everything to Me" comes from the perspective of a desperate partner in a relationship with someone not fully invested. "Somebody's Miracle" sends Liz Phair into a new universe: she's firmly out of the counterculture and takes strides toward competing with Sheryl Crow for wise pop goddess honors. - -Ken kenmlee@ix.netcom.com MeSmErIzInG - AnOtHeR LiZ PhAiR WeBsItE http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Club/2471/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 17:33:33 -0400 From: "Alisha Heidbrink" Subject: [support-system] Girlysound CD's As frequently happens when a new Liz cd comes out, I want to start listening to the old Liz CD's. Well, I went to pull out my Girlysounds and realized that my car no longer has a tape player and I only have the girlysounds on tape. So, is there anyone out there who would copy them for me? I am not much into the music scene so I have no trades of any sort, but I would pay for the CD's and shipping of course. As for the new CD, well I have been listening to it and I have mixed feelings. All in all, I don't think it is as bad as I thought on first listen. I think there are some great lyrics, which is why I have always liked Liz anyway, but I think it has a big sound, too many instruments quite frankly. I like the girl and her guitar sound more than the music studio full of people making this happen sound. I'll keep it in my cd player for awhile. One comment though, many people have said they like "Wind and the Mountain" a lot. Man, that is the one I just skip past. Too monotonous. Any thoughts? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:57:01 -0400 From: "Eric Ginsburg" Subject: [support-system] Philly Show 10/16/05 Ok, here it is. Another unsolicited, consummate review of Liz in Philly, 10/16/05 at TLA (theater of living arts). Now, this place is only a few blocks from my house and I see the marquee every day on my way to work. I'm not used to it saying "Liz Phair," and I stood and stared for a while. So if anyone has a nice photo, please send. Living only a few blocks away, I strolled over early and took a seat in the front row of the balcony. "You sat on the balcony!!! What the F!" you all say. And I say yes. I'm old -- or damn near. Plus, they serve beer up there. Yuengling on tap for 4 bucks, which tastes somewhere between vinegar and and horse urine. You can't beat that. The opener, Matt Pond PA, comes on with cellist. I liked 'em. Now, I only know one dang song by Matt Pond PA and they did not play it. During the interval, I took the opportunity to hit the head and find another beer. Shortly thereafter, Liz comes out wearing paint-on jeans and black sleeveless top with sparkles on the shoulders. Couldn't see the shoes, but blond-ish hair down to between her shoulder blades. It's funny how the girls in the crow squeel louder than the boys. Setlist as follows: Begins Acoustic I'll be damned if i can remember the first song Stratford-on-Guy Black Market White Baby Dealer -- improvised upon request Band enters: Soap Star Joe Shitloads of Money Rock Me Crazy Dreamer 6'1" Cinco de Mayo Perfect World Polyester Bride What Makes you Happy (not really, a few bars till she forgot how it went) Somebody's Miracle Mesmerizing Extraordinary My Bionic Eyes HWC Divorce Song Closer to You Supernova Fuck and Run - ----------------------- Chopsticks Flower Why Can't I end. As the encore began, the lighting got crazy, feedback, noise, disco ball, straight through the end of Flower. Pretty cool. Overall, second best of Liz's shows I've seen. Her old guitars were on the rack, but sadly, they weren't used. I noticed that some lead guitar parts weren't played. Both she and Dino played the rhythm part, for example, during Mesmerizing. There was a lot of chit chat with the crowd. When Liz forgot the words to white baby dealer, she demanded a girl in the audience who was shouting the words come up on stage. Despite her demands, the timid girl stayed put. Oh, well. There's always the chance she'll win the lottery and the superbowl. So, enjoy a supersized bowl of regret and remember -- there's always next time. And finally, for all the grumps, the curmudgeon's, those cranky, crusty, fed up, tight in the trousers, or otherwise thirty: I liked it. To all that complaining, I say it could have been worse. She could have done what every other artist has done -- gone indie. Ginz ------------------------------ End of support-system-digest V8 #138 ************************************