Liz Phair - Funstyle

Is "Bollywood" at all representative of the rest of the album? I just listened to that at the site, and I'm pretty sure it's the worst thing she's ever done. It's certainly an unexpected turn from the polished pop she's been putting out for the last decade or so, but this is not an improvement.

Any thoughts on why she would pick that song to promote the album? It's just dreadful. Either Ray is right, and it's a joke, or Devin's right, and it's the sound of someone not getting Paper Planes.

Wow, she's so done.

Liz is a classic example of an artist who paints her masterpiece right out of the gate and then can't catch lightning in a bottle twice. Plus, for the demographic who most readily embraced Guyville when it first dropped, the album evokes a time and place, usually college, that none of the subsequent albums obviously could.

Me, I gave up on her after whitechocolatespaceegg, so I've got some catching up to do.

I stuck with her through the self-titled. It's not a great album, but the insane production mixed with the occasional moments of honesty made it fascinating if uneven. I don't think I ever listened to SM more than just samples, and maybe a music video. It just seemed so pointless. The self-titled's freakishness made it fascinating.

Liz Phair, the musical creation - at her best - felt honest. When talking about fucking (and she liked to fuck), or bad relationships she was cutting. Exile had the structure that maybe she always needed. The follow up was awkward, but they always are especially after piles of hype even though it has some graceful moments, it's the first half that feels like a clutter, but I thought Whitechocolate was her maturing, and I feel has some of her strongest work (huge fan of What Makes You Happy). I think the problem is she was mining the same material, and when she was talking about her relationship problems ten years after on the self-titled, I found that intriguing, but she came off as stunted or just exploitative of the old, especially when she's singing a song about hot white cum.

No, you really don't.

Thank you so much for posting this. I had heard something was in the works but it would've taken me forever to come across this. I'll reserve judgment until after I've given it a proper listen.

I mean let's face it, that quirky indie shit is gold right now. When Vampire Weekend has a #1 album the "indie" part of indie rock is pretty much dead. The sad part is if Liz Phair hadn't done her last two albums (self titled and Somebody's Miracle) she would be poised for a huge fucking comeback right now as the indie rock MILF of legend.

Unfortunately her career is kind of reminiscent of an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. You know she means well, and she keeps trying to do good, but everything keeps coming out all fucked up. When "girl rock" consisted of Britney and Christina Aguilera she put out the self titled and tried to be herself (sing about fucking) while being poppy. Hardcore fans hated it, but she some new fans and made some scratch on the single, so she tried to back peddle with Somebody's Miracle, and both new fans and old hated that one.

So at this point it's like she's painted herself into a corner. She can't go the pop route without being called a sellout and the label she's signed to won't let her do anymore folky acoustic shit that doesn't produce singles. Putting out an album like this under these circumstances is really her only viable option at this point. She releases this weird shit on the DL, goes and plays a Matador show with GBV later this year and then maybe she can go back to doing the indie rock thing, if the kids will have her.

I've seen her 4 or 5 times, got all her albums and most of her vinyl rarities. I don't expect to like every single song she does, but so far she's yet to really disappoint me. Yeah Bollywood feels like she's trying too hard, but it's obvious that she's at least trying to say something.

I...I actually like "Bollywood."

Thumbs high on the return-to-roots production values of this album at the very least. It totally feels like the modern day equivalent of the girl in the bedroom with a 4-track.

Still not won over by Funstyle, but I'll probably check out her show at The Independent.

Great! Thanks Ray Abed for the reply.