From: owner-support-system-digest@smoe.org (support-system-digest) To: support-system-digest@smoe.org Subject: support-system-digest V8 #141 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 Thursday, October 20 2005 Volume 08 : Number 141 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [support-system] Somebody's Miracle review (The Trades) [Kenneth Lee ] [support-system] Irving Plaza 10/18 review [Kristin Whitehead ] [support-system] more on Harp magazine [Catherine Lewis ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 22:58:43 -0700 From: Kenneth Lee Subject: [support-system] Somebody's Miracle review (The Trades) From The Trades: (http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=3697) Liz Phair, "Somebody's Miracle" Music Review by Glen Levy "Yeah, you've heard it all before" announces Liz Phair prophetically towards the end of her latest album "Somebody's Miracle", "but this time it's true". Hint to reader: this is largely bad news. Phair was the post-grunge golden girl, seemingly charming all the demographics culminating in a "Rolling Stone" cover and, surely, stardom. Along the way, though, the quality of her music has slowly diminished. Debut record "Exile In Guyville" was far more than a terrific title, brimming with confidence and attitude. It didn't just stand up for women's rights, it sounded sexy and fearless at the same time, a heady combination if ever there was one. A decade on from that first foray was an eponymous 4th album, which featured tracks such as "Good Love Never Dies" (really? All evidence points to the opposite) and had the single 'Why Can't I' find its way onto the "13 Going On 30" soundtrack. From the spirit of Janis Joplin to Jennifer Garner in the space of a few records. Progress? Probably not. And so now we reach make or break time. "Somebody's Miracle" starts not with a bang but a whimper. Phair's voice seems to have transformed into Delores O'Riordan's from The Cranberries and the unfortunate pop sensibilities hinted at in previous records have manifested themselves with near disastrous results. She seems scared to let loose and extend those vocal cords; everything sounds polite, calm and clinical. What's worse, as early as the second track, "Wind And The Mountain", frank admissions of a lack of interest in life are heard with alarming regularity ("But sometimes I am too tired... I've got nothing and no one...sometimes I am inspired...you lose your way"). The title track continues this whimsical theme and comes over as light and insubstantial. Do we really want to hear about "a modern fairy tale"? You imagine that the Liz Phair of the early 90s would shudder if she knew that it was going to turn out like this. The album gets worse before matters improve. "Count On Your Love" has a chorus that any boy band would be proud to put their name to ("You only have to ask and I'll be there for you") whereas "Lazy Dreamer" has a set of opening lyrics which are just that ("You fall hard. You fall deep. Even when you're awake. You look half asleep"). The current single "Everything To Me" is possibly the most frustrating effort on show, daring as it does to hint at greater possibilities but ultimately fading away with Phair's reluctance to belt out her words. Given half a chance, you'd just love to buy her a drink, watch that tongue loosen and listen to her lungs rip without inhibition. And, strangely enough, come the end of proceedings, that's exactly what takes place. "Everything (Between Us)" verges on haunting, sounds sensational and is far and away the standout effort on show. The final tune, "Giving It All To You", immediately follows and has a welcome rawness ("I don't want to keep my feelings locked inside. Everytime I see you, you just blow my mind") which you're dying to hear more of. It's sadly too little too late and, of course, as you're starting to become engrossed in Phair's songs and what she has to say and realize that she does matter, the album ends. Another "Rolling Stone" cover might be fanciful thinking at the moment but if the next record can pick up from where "Somebody's Miracle" leaves off, then this undoubted talent could still reclaim our love. But don't hold your breath because life, as you often hear but never read, is rarely Phair. - -Ken kenmlee@ix.netcom.com MeSmErIzInG - AnOtHeR LiZ PhAiR WeBsItE http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Club/2471/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:00:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Jennifer Luu Subject: [support-system] NYC October 18 Last night's set list: 1. Closer to You (acoustic) 2. Baby Got Going (acoustic) 3. Shitloads of Money 4. Rock Me 5. Lazy Dreamer 6. 6'1" 7. Cinco de Mayo 8. Perfect World 9. Polyester Bride 10. Help Me Mary 11. Somebody's Miracle 12. Mesmerizing 13. Only Son 14. Extraordinary 15. Bionic Eyes 16. Divorce Song 17. Supernova 18. Fuck and Run **encore** 19. Chopsticks 20. Why Can't I? 21. Flower Another amazing show. I hope everyone who's seeing her is having as good of a time as me. Jennifer __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 04:55:56 -0400 From: Kristin Whitehead Subject: [support-system] Irving Plaza 10/18 review I just returned from Liz9s second Irving Plaza performance. I have to say that I would have preferred the set list from the first night, but I can9t complain because I just saw Liz in all her beauty. To be honest, I wasn9t sure what to expect from her on stage persona. The only previous time I saw Liz was at Lollapalooza where she very awkwardly mumbled five songs into a microphone in front of an audience who didn9t quite know how to react to her obvious discomfort. Ten years later in concurrence with the musical evolution from Exile in Guyville to Somebody9s Miracle, she has embraced performing to the crowd instead of being scared of its presence. Liz9s happiness is infectious and I couldn9t help but smile watching her on stage. It is obvious how much Liz and Dino are in love and their interaction with each other (looks, smiles, expressions of affection) brought a dimension to a concert that I have never quite witnessed. Liz sang all the songs with tremendous enthusiasm and animation, more so than is evident on her recordings. Liz smiled through every song and I am THRILLED for her, however it was a bit bizarre to listen to Fuck and Run and the Divorce Song from someone who is bubbling with joy. On other hand, songs like Supernova and Why Can9t I, imparted a deeper, more real dimension than my CD player has ever transmitted. The set list was as follows, which differs from the pre-show list that was taped to the stand in front of her. According to that list she had planned to begin with Fine Again, but announced before she began that after the show last night fans inquired as to why she did not play Closer to You. And so the show began with Closer to You and the list morphed from there. Unfortunately, she didn9t take suggestions and she commented that last night crowd was much more lively and that tonight9s crowd must be the 3thinkers.2 Set list: Closer to You (Acoustic w/Dino) Baby Got Going (Acoustic w/Dino) Shitloads of Money Rock Me Lazy Dreamer 6912 Cinco de Mayo Perfect World Polyester Bride Help Me Mary Somebody9s Miracle Mesmerizing Only Son (she mentioned she never plays this song) Extraordinary Bionic Eyes Divorce Song Supernova Fuck and Run Encore: Chopsticks (Solo on Keyboard) Why Can9t I Flower Total: 6 EIG, 3 WS, 5 WCSE, 4 LP, 3 SM I was happiest to hear the Exile songs, though I think they translated to her current band configuration the worst. Maybe I am being stubborn and resistant to change, but I will always prefer the lo-fi versions and I think they have more meaning in the context of pre-success Liz. The other songs were for the most part brilliant. It was difficult to hear her vocals on a couple of them, especially Bionic Eyes - a song I adore. Overall, her voice and guitar playing were great. And, of course, she looked absolutely beautiful, more so in person than in pictures. I9ve been critical of Somebody9s Miracle. I was one of the few hard-core fans who liked Liz Phair, though I should admit I liked my version of it. I deleted the Matrix songs and in their place inserted the four from the Comeandgetit EP and that was my fourth Liz Phair release. I am disappointed with Somebody9s Miracle. Aside from a few songs, I find it lyrically lacking and the sound to be too generic. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT after tonight, after seeing Liz9s happiness, I am no longer going to complain about this CD. Yes, for me it will rank at the bottom of her five LP releases, but I am going to accept it for what it is, and hope one day I will find my miracle and can shine like she did tonight. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:28:12 -0500 (CDT) From: Catherine Lewis Subject: [support-system] Harp magazine Also - Liz Phair is on the cover of the November issue of Harp. There's a big Q&A article inside (that I haven't read yet!) Catherine. > Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 14:53:58 -0700 > From: Kenneth Lee > Subject: [support-system] Somebody's Miracle review (Harp Magazine) > > From Harp Magazine: > (http://harpmagazine.com/articles/detail.cfm?article_id=3564) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 12:29:48 -0500 (CDT) From: Catherine Lewis Subject: [support-system] more on Harp magazine Actually, just noticed that the entire article is online here: http://harpmagazine.com/articles/detail.cfm?article_id=3548 Tons of pictures in the actual print version as well. ------------------------------ End of support-system-digest V8 #141 ************************************