Really, this is just Liz Phair's attempt to sound like a really pop version of Avril Lavinge, but it's not a terrible album. "Extraordinary" is a good album opener and it's a probably Liz's loudest rock song ever. Despite "Favorite", which is just about an on-again-off-again boyfriend who reminds her of her favorite underwear, the music on this record get progressively better. NOTICE: I said the music, not the lyrics. The lyrics on this album are not her best, by far, but sometimes you just have to wonder if she just wanted to make an album that was less serious than Exile in Guyville or Whip-Smart. So, I can't fault her for that because TOO much seriousness can be plain boring.
She produced the majority of the songs on this album, but she didn't do much guitar playing at all. "Bionic Eyes" has a 60's type vibe to it and the lyrics are just like those of classic Liz Phair. Another good one is "Firewalker" even though it sounds a bit like she is straining to hit the higher notes. Although "Why Can't I" isn't Grammy-worthy, it was a catchy song that brought her radio airplay and it broadened her fanbase. So what's wrong with that?? She even points fun at herself in "Rock Me" stating that the guy she's seeing has never even heard of her music before. There is one filler-song on there, "HWC" which is really silly and upbeat blatantly sexual song. There's also a beautiful and uptempo song called "Good Love Never Dies".
What makes this record different from Exile in Guyville( year 1993), Whip-Smart (year 1994), and Whitechocolatespaceegg( year 1998) is that it is more melodic and she challeges herself vocally and again as the sole producer on most of the songs. Artists are supposed to try new things and push boundaries and I don't see where she went wrong with releasing this record.
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