Liz Phair

Main | Biography | Articles | Album Reviews | Photos | Videos | Discography

Album Reviews

Photo

Liz Phair

Somebody's Miracle  Hear it Now

RS: 2of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 4of 5 Stars

2005

Play View Liz Phair's page on Rhapsody

Liz Phair's voice is thin and dry, perfectly suited to the conversational tone of her 1993 indie-rock masterpiece, Exile in Guyville, but nowhere near muscular enough for the belters she's trying to write these days. It's weird to hear such a brilliant mumbler turn into such a mediocre singer -- and work so hard at it. On Somebody's Miracle, she goes for a folksy, acoustic style, but she still oversings, holding notes too long and tackling pop choruses she doesn't have half the voice for. As on her last couple of albums, the lyrics are sitcom-ready romantic scenarios ("Leap of Innocence," "Table for One") burdened by plain and forgettable music: a classic case of inspired amateur become bored pro. Maybe Phair will loosen up and make another album as fluent as Exile or Whip-Smart; more likely she'll move on to screenplays.

ROB SHEFFIELD

(Posted: Oct 20, 2005)

Advertisement

News and Reviews

Advertisement


How to Play This Album

  • Click the play button.

  • Register or enter your username and password.

  • Let the music play!

No commitment.
It's FREE.

 

Track List

Play All

Photo

 

Your Turn

Give us your review of Somebody's Miracle

Advertisement

 

Everything:Liz Phair

Main | Biography | Articles | Album Reviews | Photos | Videos | Discography

 

RSS Subscribe to Rolling Stone Liz Phair feed

See all available RSS feeds / learn more

Advertisement

Advertisement