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X-Ray Man by Liz Phair
X-Ray Man by Liz Phair
I remember where and when I bought Whip-Smart, because it was so momentous. Exile in Guyville was probably the album that changed my life, and I rushed out to buy Whip-Smart expecting it to do it all over again. But it didn't. There were certain songs that I loved, for sure, like "Nashville," "Crater Lake," "Jealousy," "May Queen," and even the title track. But there were also a fair amount of songs that to me seemed like lifeless filler.
"X-Ray Man" falls into this category.
It lacked the sort of edge that the songs on Exile were ripe with, and seemed more like something Phair had phoned in. And the way she delivered the words "funky baby/lady" always really got on my nerves. Maybe it's just the word "funky" itself. It's not a good word. "X-Ray Man" clocks in at about two minutes, in typical Phair fashion, but it never seems to go anywhere. And among Whip-Smart's songs, this is not unusual.
I've never bought another Liz Phair album since.
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ChrisB said on August 1, 2007:
O Dana, I was going to let this one go, but you asked me to. ;-) If I had all the time to defend every woman musician I love who you guys don't like (and yes, Liz Phair is definitely one of them), I wouldn't be able to maintain a day job.
I think *Exile is Guyville* is as close to perfect as an album can get (and I was just listening to it yesterday) and she hasn't made a record nearly as good (but really, neither has anyone else). Her songs have become less revelatory (and probably less autobiographical) over the years and that's why she's gotten all of the shit that comes with it. It's not her fault, but it is her problem.
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imaginary ash said on August 1, 2007:
Well put, ChrisB. I think I agree with you all the way on that assessment.
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Joseph_T said on August 9, 2007:
I agree with both of you...Liz Phair released one of the best alternative albums of my gen with "Exile in Guyville", and it is hard to follow up a double album (or CD to you young-ins) with anything...that being said, I thought "Whip-Smart" was pretty good. It is unfortunate that she seemed to cave in to her label and try to be more "poppy" which also happened with Jewel in my opinion.
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Joseph_T said on August 9, 2007:
I agree with both of you...Liz Phair released one of the best alternative albums of my gen with "Exile in Guyville", and it is hard to follow up a double album (or CD to you young-ins) with anything...that being said, I thought "Whip-Smart" was pretty good. It is unfortunate that she seemed to cave in to her label and try to be more "poppy" which also happened with Jewel in my opinion.
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Cal Ledbetter said on August 9, 2007:
I also love, love, love "Exile." And although the other albums were letdowns, Liz Phair, for me, coined one of the best phrases ever.
whitechocolatespaceegged.
def: When an artisit with a monumental debut album releases a less-than-stellar sophomore attempt.
Used in a sentence: Pete Yorn whitechocolatespaceegged with his second release.
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imaginary dana said on August 9, 2007:
I love it! Except whitechocolatespaceegg wasn't her sophomore release, it was her junior one.
Whip-Smart was her sophomore. But that's not as funny as a unique verb!
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Reviews
imaginary dana said on August 1, 2007:
I feel your pain on this one, Betsy. Though I do have a copy of whitechocolatespaceegg (purchased used) and it has a few worthwhile jams on it.
But otherwise -- yah. Though I know ChrisB is gonna rush in here to defend his beloved Liz. ;)