Liz Phair (self-titled)
"Selling out." It's a concept that has about as much definition as "good." It has been applied to artists who have allowed their music to be used in commercials, in television, in movies, and by other artists. It has been applied to artists who put their names on clothing lines, or golf clubs. It has even been applied to artists who sign to major recording labels.
However, the question here is not "Did Liz Phair sell out?" It is, simply, "Is the new CD any good?"
It's been blatantly obvious that Phair has been heading down Pop Lane during the course of her career. If you compare 1993's Exile in Guyville to 1998's whitechocolatespaceegg, it's right there for all the world to hear. However, no one thought that she'd make a right turn onto Bubblegum Way, and that's when the shouts of "sellout!" began.
Yes, in many ways, Liz Phair could be an Avril Lavigne CD. It was even co-written and produced, on four of the fourteen tracks, by Lavigne's old writing team The Matrix. These tracks are completely radio-friendly, and, in the case of opening track "Extraordinary" and "Why Can't I?", are practically interchangeable. Still, they're good, well-written pop songs, if that helps at all. "Favorite," which compares love to underwear, is particularly clever.
On the other hand, in many ways it could be a Michael Penn CD as well. Penn has his Beatles-influenced hands all over five tracks to the point where you wonder if Phair had any choice in the music at all. (In fact, from a glance at the liner notes, it doesn't appear that Phair picked up an instrument at all during the process.) While these tracks are enjoyable, as it was put by an angry fan, "It doesn't sound like Liz at all!" Indeed.
But don't worry, it's been covered! The vulgar track "H.W.C" (don't ask) is there to prove to you that Liz Phair has not lost her edge! If only it could. Unlike Exile's "Flower," "H.W.C" takes explicit lyrics and strips any sexuality from them by putting them in a bubblegum format. It makes you wonder why anyone would produce what sounds like a bad, off-color joke.
It's only when Phair produces her own songs that we hear the tracks that long-term Liz-lovers expected. "Firewalker" had been heard live years before the release of Liz Phair, and has been fine-tuned to perfection in that time. "Love/Hate" is a fun, bouncy, and just-introspective-enough anthem. "My Bionic Eyes" is pure, old-school Liz Phair.
So, "Is the new CD any good?"
Sure, why not? It's all there, in the package--catchy music, clever and sometimes thoughtful lyrics, hot pics of a hot chick. But if you're looking for true depth, best to check out whitechocolatespaceegg instead.