672 Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (1993)

 672 Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (1993)

Studio Album - Indie Rock



About the Act:

Liz Phair is a singer-songwriter from Chicago. She released her first album in 1993 and is still going, although like everyone her rate of production has slowed.

About the Album:

This was her first album.

My History with this Album:

I've been vaguely aware that this album existed.

Review:

So the way this was recorded, apparently, was that Liz Phair started with these songs she had written, and they were basically recorded vocal with acoustic guitar, and then the arrangements were built around these basics. This is somewhat unusual in that usually the backing is laid down first (drums, bass etc), and vocals last.  I think this approach was positive, in that it gives emphasis to the song first.

Musically it's varied in style, mostly kind of medium-to-light rock, mostly kind of "alternative". It's not a million miles from Alanis Morrissette in some ways. It's quite melancholy at times musically, and in the production.

The star here is the words, really. The singing and performance is fine, but for once I get why people have raved about this album. I don't mind empty fluff-music when there are other qualities, but I often wonder at how many songs are recorded which basically have very little to say. Apparently Liz was quite taken aback by the response to this album, thinking it was "nothing remarkable". Sorry, Liz, I disagree, there are some really interesting songs in here and I really want to keep digging at this album. It will need a few listens. It's quite story-telling, and definitely a slice of life, not glamourized, but quite astute about the world of many modern young women. Quite a lot of it comes from feeling somewhat unexceptional and ignored by others, and yearning to be someone more central, or at least noticed. As I was writing it and I am listening, she was singing "I want to be mesmerising too". It's somewhat graphic at times, and not safe for the kids, but it's really quite honest, and at times disturbing.

In that sense, it's quite special.

Apparently, it's actually structured as a response to the Rolling Stones Exile in Main Street. I don't know that album so I can't really appreciate that aspect.

8.5/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7sCpW2cLGcRk1zf9zi0Yqd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj9CtvSHiKj8uw9cCtQqPHO2Nw9gHUecz

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exile_in_Guyville



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