Liz Phair (album)

Liz Phair
Studio album by Liz Phair
Released June 24, 2003
Genre Teen pop
Length 50:14
Label Capitol
CDP 7243 5 22084 0 1
Producer
Liz Phair chronology
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(1998)String Module Error: Match not found1998		 Liz Phair
(2003)		 Comeandgetit
(2003)Comeandgetit2003
Singles from Liz Phair
  1. "Why Can't I?"
    Released: September 8, 2003
  2. "Extraordinary"
    Released: 2004

Liz Phair is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair, released June 24, 2003 on Capitol Records. "Why Can't I?" and "Extraordinary" were released as singles. Phair began production on the album with Michael Penn. Liz Phair debuted at #27 on the Billboard 200.[1] As of July 2010, the album had sold 433,000 copies.[2]

Background

Initially, Phair worked on tracks for the album with songwriter Michael Penn as the producer, but the finished album received a lukewarm reception from Capitol. 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".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic40/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Blender[5]
Christgau's Consumer GuideA[6]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[7]
The Guardian[8]
Los Angeles Times[9]
Mojo[10]
Pitchfork0/10[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
SpinB−[13]

On Metacritic, a review aggregator site, the album holds a score of 40/100, indicating "mixed or average reviews."[3] Many decried Phair for "selling out", and she became a "piñata for critics".[14] 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."[15] Matt LeMay of Pitchfork rated the album a 0.0 out of 10, stating, "it's sad that an artist as groundbreaking as Phair would be reduced to cheap publicity stunts and hyper-commercialized teen-pop."[11] In his review for Entertainment Weekly, Chris Willman described it as "an honestly fun summer disc," noting "Little Digger" and "Rock Me" as highlights.[7] Slant Magazine's Sal Cinquemani also described the album positively, calling Phair "frank and funny" singling out "It's Sweet," "My Bionic Eyes," and "Rock Me" as noteworthy tracks.[16] Robert Christgau awarded the album with an "A," praising "Extraordinary," "Favorite," "Little Digger," "Rock Me," and "H.W.C.", and noting that the album included "no bad songs."[6]

"Extraordinary" and "Take a Look" were used in the TV series 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, being featured on the soundtracks of the films How to Deal, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, and 13 Going on 30 as well. "Extraordinary" was also featured in the film Raising Helen.

Track listing

All tracks written by Liz Phair, unless otherwise noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Extraordinary"Phair, Christy, Edwards, Spock3:25
2."Red Light Fever"Phair, Gary Clark4:52
3."Why Can't I?"Phair, Christy, Edwards, Spock3:28
4."It's Sweet" 2:55
5."Rock Me"Phair, Christy, Edwards, Spock3:21
6."Take a Look" 3:29
7."Little Digger" 3:36
8."Firewalker" 4:29
9."Favorite"Phair, Christy, Edwards, Spock3:24
10."Love/Hate" 3:43
11."H.W.C." (Not on the clean version of the album) 2:56
12."My Bionic Eyes" 3:52
13."Friend of Mine" 3:44
14."Good Love Never Dies" 3:00

Personnel

Production

  • Producers: The Matrix, Michael Penn, R. Walt Vincent
  • 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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003) Position
US Billboard 200 27
US Top Internet Albums (Billboard) 27

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000double-dagger

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ "Liz Phair - Liz Phair". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  2. ↑ "Ask Billboard: Kylie 'Fever'". Billboard. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  3. 1 2 "Liz Phair by Liz Phair". Metacritic. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  4. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Liz Phair – Liz Phair". AllMusic. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  5. ↑ Powers, Ann (June–July 2003). "Liz Phair: Liz Phair". Blender (17): 146. Archived from the original on April 17, 2004. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "Liz Phair: Liz Phair". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  7. 1 2 Willman, Chris (June 27, 2003). "Liz Phair". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  8. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (October 10, 2003). "Liz Phair, Liz Phair". The Guardian. London. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  9. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (June 29, 2003). "No breakthrough this time around". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Liz Phair: Liz Phair". Mojo (118): 104. September 2003.
  11. 1 2 LeMay, Matt (June 24, 2003). "Liz Phair: Liz Phair". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  12. ↑ Walters, Barry (June 18, 2003). "Liz Phair". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  13. ↑ Klosterman, Chuck (July 2003). "Liz Phair: Liz Phair". Spin. 19 (7): 107. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  14. ↑ David Carr (August 2, 2005). "Arts and Music". The New York Times.
  15. ↑ Meghan O'Rourke (June 22, 2003). "Arts and Music". The New York Times.
  16. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (June 18, 2003). "Liz Phair: Liz Phair". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  17. ↑ "American album certifications – Liz Phair – Liz Phair". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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