On the 30th anniversary of Liz Phair's 'Exile in Guyville,' Rob Sheffield on why Phair's landmark debut is as relevant as ever and how she predicted the fuckboy and ripped them to shreds
where she confesses, “I want all that stupid old shit like letters and sodas.” “I wanted to show contradiction,” Phair says. “I wanted to carve out space for the complex woman, consciously. Which is weird, but I took that very seriously back then.”
One of the people who flipped for the original Girly-Sound tapes was Brad Wood, a local producer who played drums in the legendary Chicago band Shrimp Boat. He helped Phair create an album that any other producer would have screwed up. When they cutin his studio, they kept it minimal. There was no back-up band — almost every sound came from Phair, Wood, and guitarist/engineer Casey Rice. The swirly, sparse sound ofis a sound that nobody else has ever figured out how to duplicate.
Another crucial innovation of the sound: her flat Midwestern voice. “My poor mother, she just recently gave me singing lessons,” Phair admits. “I have such a nasal mumbly twang and there’s nothing to do about it now. It’s what everybody likes. But I hate hearing it.” “I have such a nasal mumbly twang and there’s nothing to do about it now. It’s what everybody likes. But I hate hearing it.”dropped in the summer of 1993, it was instantly controversial. But as it grew into a cultural phenomenon, the backlash got nastier and more misogynistic. “I had not been assigned a chaperone,” Phair says. “I had not been assigned a manager. I had not been assigned a Svengali. I was unbound by male ownership, which was strange.” Guyville did not appreciate her input.
There’s a famous photo of Phair playing live, in her early days, taken by Marty Perez. She stands onstage in a Chicago rock club. The whole audience is a sea of frowning male faces. As soon as I mentioned this photo to Phair, she had a lot to say about it. “was the wind I was shouting into. Those are the faces I saw every day. And every time I wanted to say something in the recording studio. Those are the faces I’m seeing every time I want to do something different with my career.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sheffield DocFest Wraps Successful 30th Edition, Moving Beyond Period Of InstabilitySheffield DocFest is on the rebound. The 30th edition of the prestigious all-documentary film festival in the North of England just wrapped, witnessing a 17 percent increase in attendance by i…
Read more »
River North's Redhead Piano Bar to celebrate 30th anniversary with extravagant cocktail partyThis week, The Redhead Piano Bar, a beloved establishment in River North, is preparing to commemorate its 30th anniversary.
Read more »
It Starts On The Page: Read ‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2 Script “Burial” By Rich Monahan & Liz PhangEditor’s note: Deadline’s It Starts on the Page features 10 standout drama series scripts in 2023 Emmy contention. It showcases the critical role writers’ work plays in a show’s…
Read more »
IVE’s Liz Talks About Regaining Confidence And Her Favorite IVE LyricIVE's Liz Talks About Regaining Confidence And Her Favorite IVE Lyric
Read more »
Clippers weighing roster options as they prepare for NBA draftWhat will the Clippers do with the 30th pick in NBA draft? A look at their options, which includes 48th pick, and roster moves heading into the draft.
Read more »
Watch: TREASURE’s New Unit T5 Drops Dance Practice Video For Upcoming Debut Song “MOVE”WATCH: TREASURE's New Unit T5 Drops Dance Practice Video For Upcoming Debut Song 'MOVE'
Read more »