SOUNDTRACK: LIZ PHAIR-Exile in Guyville Live October 6, 2008 (2008).
Like all indie rock hipsters I loved Exile in Guyville when it came out. And like all indie rock hipsters, I hated that Liz Phair later made an album that is had the top cover below. I didn’t even care anymore when she made the album with the second cover below.
The irony of course is that Liz made Guyville because she was sick of the hipster boys who were living in Chicago at the time. And now it was the same hipster boys (only older) who were dismissing her for selling out. (At least, that’s what I get from the interview that’s attached to the end of the concert and this separate interview from around the same time).
But regardless of my hipster cred (and subsequent loss of same) I really didn’t like Liz’s new pop style (but good for her for still being hot, right?). In fact, I hadn’t even really listened to her since 2000 anyhow so when she came out with her pop albums I just kind of shrugged.
So, what’s up with this return to Guyville? Well, the interviews mention her needing some closure on the rough time in her life when she made the record. And also feeling that since could actually play her guitar now, it was worth giving fans (and herself) the experience of actually enjoying playing the album live. So, good vibes and happy feelings all around (and sex and sex and more sex).
The concert is the entire Guyville album, played start to finish, with occasional banter in between. And she is quite faithful to the original (she even has a special guest sing the “Every time I see your face, I get all wet between my legs” line on “Flower.” The main flaw with the concert is that the bassist hits a number of flat notes and also on at least two songs is either out of tune or just mixed too loud or something.
The other flaw is directly related to Liz saying how much better she is at performing. Because as the set opens, her voice sounds really off on the first couple of songs. In the interview, she says that she still feels uncomfortable on stage until about the fourth song. And maybe that’s what’s happening on 6′ 1″ or, quite possibly, she can’t hit those notes anymore (her voice is considerably higher on her newer songs and 6′ 1″ is a low register, almost flat singing style and she just doesn’t seem comfortable doing it). Indeed, by the fourth or fifth song, she seems more comfortable and seems to be having more fun and the set moves pretty smoothly from there.
She has a good rapport with the audience. Humility was never her strong suit, and it shows, which makes me her a little less likable, but she still has good banter.
When the album is over she comes back for a brief encore. She plays two songs solo (which are okay). And then the band comes back for two of her other hits: “Supernova” and “Polyester Bride” which both sound fantastic.
Listening to Exile in Guyville again was great, the songs hold up really well. I’ll have to pull her old CDs out and listen to the originals again (the concert is mixed a little low, but–good on NPR–all of the bad words are left in!). The NPR page also said that Guyville had gone out of print until it was reissued recently. Is it really possible that Matador let it go out of print?
[READ: April 22, 2011] Five Dials Number 4
The conceit behind this issue is “Eleven writers tell us Exactly What Happened …Days Before It Happened.” And the authors tell us in past tense what happened on the fateful night of the election between Obama nad McCain. (even though they are written some time before it has happened).
This issue is short again (all of 14 pages), but with such a tidy topic, the fourteen pages are packed with information. There are eleven authors who write about the election. Most are just a couple of paragraphs, so I’m not going to try to summarize them. I’m going to say their predictions for what happened and (in one case) the uncanny accuracy.
CRAIG TAYLOR-A Letter from the Editor “On Elections and Chomsky”
He lays out what the point of this speculation fiction is: “We’ve become tired of the uncertainty and of the waiting. It’s time someone told us exactly how this election ends.” And also, Chomsky is almost 80, and he’s still vibrant.
THE ELECTION: I Remember 5 November 2008
HARRY SHEARER-McCain wins (and has heart attack). President Palin.
LYDIA MILLET-Obama ekes out a victory (McCain makes confusing concession speech) and… How did Millet know this? “Sarah Palin, who plans to resign governorship in favour of work in the private sector, is busy signing sponsorship deals with a number of corporations” Well done Lydia!
SUKETU MEHTA-Obama and Palin run off to Hawaii in an illicit affair
SAÏD SAYRAFIEZADEH-Róger Calero, president of the Socialist Workers Party in a surprise victory
J. ROBERT LENNON-McCain wins and serves the country Freedom Pie.
HARI KUNZRU-Obama wins but there’s no change.
SANIT BROWN-McCain wins, Obama shops in a grocery store.
MICHAEL MARTONE-Doesn’t predict, talks about how everyone in his southern black district gets dressed up in their Sunday best to cast a vote And he will do the same.
PAUL MALISZEWSKI-Obama wins. With a new baby, Paul and his wife stay up to watch the returns, knowing history has been made for their six month old.
KEVIN BROCKMEIER-Tom Hanks wins a write in vote.
SCOTT BRADFIELD-Blames Nader.
All of the fiction was fun to read, from the positivity of some of them to the humorous negativity of others.
NOAM CHOMSKY-Call a Witness: “On Wars, Bailouts and Elections”
Chomsky is sharp as ever. The main thrust is why isn’t Obama way ahead in the polls since Bush is a disaster, and Chomsky talks about the Republican propaganda machine being so very effective. He also says that you SHOULD vote for the lesser of two evils. Because, despite the similarity between the two parties Chomsky notes (and I wish everyone would read this):
If you look over a long stretch, fairly consistently, when there is a Democratic president, there is a level of benefits for the majority of the population. Wages are a little better, benefits are a little better, for the large majority. When the Republicans are in office, it’s the other way around. There are benefits, but for the super rich. The same is true of civil rights and other things (9).
ROBIN YASSIN-KASSAB-Fiction: “At All Costs”
Abdu, a man at the climax of his life (his sixtieth birthday) looks around the room and wonders what has happened to his life. A depressing little tale, but really how much of it is in his head?
DENNIS WILLIAM BROGAN-The HH Archives” American Aspects: Looking Back to 1964″
Brogan had an insider look at the White House. He gives some details of the history of the building itself and how Presidents have changed it. He also talks about the halls of power. He knows the history back to Adams. He also talks about the wonderful hominess that Jackie Kennedy has added to the place. It’s nice to see an outsider’s point of view on something we tend to take for granted (like the White House’s openness–which is somewhat restricted more now than in 1964).
All illustrations are by Nina Chakrabarti. They have a slightly sloppy/homemade quality to them that I rather like.
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This was a fun issue, the authors and their brief predictions was a wonderful idea.
For ease of searching I include: Said Sayrafiezadeh and Roger Calero
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