Man, Liz' new album really sucks the big one. I've been a huge fan of hers for many years, so it truly pains me to have to say it, but this disc is fucking dreadful.
I could've cut her some slack if she'd have "sold out" or merely released a very commercial sounding record, but even that isn't the case. There's almost nothing catchy or hummable on the whole disc.
First off, I shoulda known something was up when I saw the credits; maybe 5 or 6 songs Liz cowrote with several other people. And all those songs blow bigtime, with the exception of "Rock Me"; it's so bland that instead of actively sucking it just sorta lulls you to sleep.
The songs she writes herself fare slightly better, but still are very dissappointing. As a singer, she does exhibit a bit more confidence, which is to say she tries a more conventional pop vocal style- but what Liz Phair fan wants to hear that? I love the quirkey phrasing, the almost spoken/half sung deliver that typifies her stuff. On those song she wrote herself, a little of the old Liz shines thru in the delivery, but it's not enough to save this crappy disc.
The worst thing about this album is the mind numbing sameness from song to song; very little variety in tempos and dynamics. If the track # didn't change you almost couldn't tell where one songs stops and the next starts. I have to give it just about the worst criticism music can get: it's boring.
On the (very limited) plus side, I really loved one song- It's Sweet sounds like it was leftover from Whitechocolatespaceegg. Very cool. Still one song doesn't keep this one from leaving skid marks on the bowl.
With regret, I must advise avoiding this like AIDS.
