Liz Phair (album)
Encyclopedia
Liz Phair is the eponymous fourth album
by American singer-songwriter
Liz Phair
, released June 24, 2003 on Capitol Records
. "Why Can't I?
" and "Extraordinary" were released as a singles. Phair began production on the album with Michael Penn
.
. Having already exhausted the recording budget, label president Andy Slater offered Phair more money to record if she agreed to work on possible singles with the production team known as The Matrix
. The Matrix was known primarily for producing glossy hits for female singers such as Avril Lavigne
, Britney Spears
, and Hilary Duff
. Phair ultimately collaborated with The Matrix on four songs: "Why Can't I?", "Extraordinary", "Favorite", and "Rock Me".
for critics". The New York Times
' Meghan O'Rourke
titled her review of the album "Liz Phair's Exile in Avril-ville
", and complained that Phair "gushes like a teenager" and had "committed an embarrassing form of career suicide." Pitchfork Media
gave the album a 0.0, the lowest score on the website's rating scale. In his review, Pitchfork crtic Matt LeMay stated "it's sad that an artist as groundbreaking as Phair would be reduced to cheap publicity stunts and hyper-commercialized teen-pop"
" EP. The outtakes are listed below:
* The alternate version of "Good Love Never Dies" never leaked, but is still considered an outtake
" and "Take a Look" were used in the Warner
drama Charmed
, on episodes "Oh, My Goddess" and "It's A Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World" respectively, while "Why Can't I" appeared in a Tru Calling
episode, featuring on the soundtrack of films Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
and 13 Going on 30
as well.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by American singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
, released June 24, 2003 on Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. "Why Can't I?
Why Can't I?
"Why Can't I?" is the first single off Liz Phair's 2003 self-titled album, Liz Phair. It reached number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100, Phair's highest-charting single to date.The B-sides are "Jeremy Engle" and "Fine Again"....
" and "Extraordinary" were released as a singles. Phair began production on the album with Michael Penn
Michael Penn
Michael Penn is an American singer, songwriter and composer. He is the eldest son of actor/director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan, and the brother of actors Sean Penn and the late Chris Penn.-Career:...
.
Production
Initially, Phair worked on tracks for the album with songwriter Michael Penn as the producer, but the finished album received a lukewarm reception from MatadorMatador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of indie rock artists and bands.-History:Matador was started by Chris Lombardi in 1989 in his New York City apartment. The following year, Lombardi was joined by former Homestead Records manager Gerard Cosloy, and the two of them have...
. Having already exhausted the recording budget, label president Andy Slater offered Phair more money to record if she agreed to work on possible singles with the production team known as The Matrix
The Matrix (music producer)
The Matrix is an American pop music writing and production team, consisting of Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards and Scott Spock.-Background:Before her involvement in The Matrix, Lauren Christy had moderate success as a singer-songwriter, releasing two albums under Mercury Records in the mid-1990s,...
. The Matrix was known primarily for producing glossy hits for female singers such as Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
, Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
, and Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
. Phair ultimately collaborated with The Matrix on four songs: "Why Can't I?", "Extraordinary", "Favorite", and "Rock Me".
Critical reception
Though her eponymous album introduced Phair to a mainstream audience for the first time, success brought about a strong backlash from critics and disappointed fans of her earlier work. Many decried her for "selling out", and she became a "piñataPiñata
A piñata is a papier-mâché or other type of container that is decorated, filled with toys and or candy and then broken as part of a ceremony or celebration. Piñatas are most commonly associated with Mexico, but its origins are considered to be in China...
for critics". The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
Meghan O'Rourke
Meghan O'Rourke is an American poet, critic, and a contributing writer for the online magazine Slate. She is a graduate of Yale. O'Rourke was formerly a fiction editor at The New Yorker and from 2005-2010 was poetry co-editor at The Paris Review...
titled her review of the album "Liz Phair's Exile in Avril-ville
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
", and complained that Phair "gushes like a teenager" and had "committed an embarrassing form of career suicide." Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
gave the album a 0.0, the lowest score on the website's rating scale. In his review, Pitchfork crtic Matt LeMay stated "it's sad that an artist as groundbreaking as Phair would be reduced to cheap publicity stunts and hyper-commercialized teen-pop"
Outtakes
There exist several circulating outtakes from the album. Some of them have never been commercially released, but some have leaked in bootlegs. The first 5 are from the "comeandgetitComeandgetit
comeandgetit is the second EP released by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair composed of 5 out-takes from her self-titled album. It was available as bonus material for those who purchased the album.-Release:...
" EP. The outtakes are listed below:
- "Jeremy Engle"
- "Bouncer's Conversation"
- "Fine Again"
- "Hurricane Cindy" ("comeandgetitComeandgetitcomeandgetit is the second EP released by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair composed of 5 out-takes from her self-titled album. It was available as bonus material for those who purchased the album.-Release:...
" version) - "Shallow Opportunitites"
- "Why Can't I?" (Single Mix)
- "Take a Look" (Original Mix)
- "Rapids"
- "Liar"
- "Red Light Fever" (Alternate Version)
- "Down"
- "Bouncer's Conversation" (Alternate Version)
- "Love/Hate" (Alternate Version)
- "Good Love Never Dies" (Alternate Version)*
- "Apple Tree" (From Julie Johnson)
- "Faded"(From Julie Johnson)
- "She's Gone" (From Julie Johnson)
- "Love/Hate Transmission" (Original version of "Love/Hate"; not the alternate version)
- "Insanity"
- "Don't Apologize"
Mass media
Singles "ExtraordinaryExtraordinary
Extraordinary may refer to:* The Extraordinary, an Australian television documentary series* ExtraOrdinary, an EP by Nizlopi* "Extraordinary" , a song by Mandy Moore...
" and "Take a Look" were used in the Warner
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
drama Charmed
Charmed
Charmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
, on episodes "Oh, My Goddess" and "It's A Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World" respectively, while "Why Can't I" appeared in a Tru Calling
Tru Calling
Tru Calling is an American television supernatural drama series that premiered on Fox Network on October 30, 2003. It ran for two seasons before being canceled....
episode, featuring on the soundtrack of films Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic and starring Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace, and Josh Duhamel.- Plot :...
and 13 Going on 30
13 Going on 30
13 Going on 30 is a 2004 American romantic comedy fantasy film starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. It has a similar premise to the classic short story Rip Van Winkle, in which a young person falls asleep and wakes up many years later as an older person...
as well.
Track listing
All songs by Liz Phair, unless otherwise noted.- "Extraordinary" (Christy, Edwards, Spock) – 3:25
- "Red Light Fever" (Gary ClarkGary Clark (musician)Gary Clark is a Scottish musician who formed a band with his brother Kit Clark, and long time friend, Ged Grimes in 1984, initially under the name of Spencer Tracy...
) – 4:52 - "Why Can't I?" (Christy, Edwards, Spock) – 3:28
- "It's Sweet" – 2:55
- "Rock Me" (Christy, Edwards, Spock) – 3:21
- "Take A Look" – 3:29
- "Little Digger" – 3:36
- "Firewalker" – 4:29
- "Favorite" (Christy, Edwards, Spock) – 3:24
- "Love/Hate" – 3:43
- "H.W.C. (Hot White Cum)"– 2:56 (Not on the clean version of the album)
- "My Bionic Eyes" – 3:52
- "Friend Of Mine" – 3:44
- "Good Love Never Dies" – 3:00
Personnel
- Liz Phair - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, sampling - Jebin Bruni - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Mario Calire - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Lenny Castro - percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
- Matt ChamberlainMatt ChamberlainMatthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
- drums - Alison Clark - background vocals
- Mike ElizondoMike ElizondoMichael "Mike" Elizondo is a well-known songwriter, bassist, keyboardist, and hip hop music producer.-Musical career:Mike Elizondo is especially known for his collaborations with internationally successful producer Dr. Dre and rapper Eminem. He has played the bass for many of Dr...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Victor Indrizzo - drums
- Corky James - guitar, bass
- Buddy Judge - guitar, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, background vocals - Abe Laboriel Jr.Abe Laboriel Jr.Abe Laboriel Jr. is an American session drummer. He is the son of Mexican bassist Abraham Laboriel, Sr. and brother of producer, songwriter, and film composer Mateo Laboriel....
- drums - The MatrixThe Matrix (music producer)The Matrix is an American pop music writing and production team, consisting of Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards and Scott Spock.-Background:Before her involvement in The Matrix, Lauren Christy had moderate success as a singer-songwriter, releasing two albums under Mercury Records in the mid-1990s,...
- vocals - Wendy MelvoinWendy MelvoinWendy Melvoin is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band The Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa....
- bass, guitar - Michael PennMichael PennMichael Penn is an American singer, songwriter and composer. He is the eldest son of actor/director Leo Penn and actress Eileen Ryan, and the brother of actors Sean Penn and the late Chris Penn.-Career:...
- bass, guitar, background vocals, sampling - John Sands - drums
- David Sutton - bass
- R. Walt Vincent - bass, guitar, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, background vocals, WurlitzerWurlitzerThe Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes.... - Patrick Warren - pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboards - The Wizardz of OzWizardz of OzThe Wizardz Of Oz are Andrew Bojanic and Liz Hooper. They are a multi-platinum selling producer/writers who have worked with The Cheetah Girls, Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Avril Lavigne, Olivia Newton-John, Britney Spears, Krystal Meyers, Liz Phair, Krezip, Vanessa Amorosi and many others.Songs written...
- vocals - Pete YornPete YornPeter Joseph Yorn is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who first gained international recognition after his debut record, Musicforthemorningafter, was released to critical acclaim in 2001.-Early history:Yorn's father is a dentist and his mother is a former concert pianist who worked as a...
- guitar, drums
Production
- Producers: The MatrixThe Matrix (music producer)The Matrix is an American pop music writing and production team, consisting of Lauren Christy, Graham Edwards and Scott Spock.-Background:Before her involvement in The Matrix, Lauren Christy had moderate success as a singer-songwriter, releasing two albums under Mercury Records in the mid-1990s,...
, Michael Penn, R. Walt VincentR. Walt VincentR. Walt Vincent is a Los Angeles based record producer, recording engineer, composer, and multi instrumentalist known for his work with indie rock icons Pete Yorn, Liz Phair, and Tommy Keene.... - Engineers: Doug Boehm, Ryan Freeland, The Matrix, Michael Penn, R. Walt Vincent, Howard Willing
- Assistant engineer: Kevin Meeker
- Mixing: Serban Ghenea, Tom Lord-Alge
- Mastering: Ted Jensen, Eddy Schreyer
- Assistant: Mike Glines, Andrew Nast
- Arranger: The Matrix
- Drum recordings: Krish Sharma
- Design: Eric Roinestad
- Art direction: Eric Roinestad
- Photography: Phil Poynter
Album
| Chart (2003) | Position |
|---|---|
| The Billboard 200 | 27 |
| Top Internet Albums | 27 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Why Can't I?" | Adult Top 40 | 7 |
| 2004 | The Billboard Hot 100 | 32 | |
| Top 40 Adult Recurrents | 1 | ||
| Top 40 Mainstream | 10 | ||
| Top 40 Tracks | 15 | ||
| New Zealand Charts | 37 | ||
| "Extraordinary" | Adult Top 40 | 14 | |
| Top 40 Mainstream | 28 |