Mesmerizing

Liz Phair Headlines


A FEW WORDS FROM ME...
Well, here is phase one of my website redecoration. I will continue to keep updating all news, so fear not. Let me know what you think of the changes.

Also, I want to mention if you're desperate for news AT THIS VERY SECOND, why don't you join one/two/all of the Liz Phair mailing lists? That's where all my news usually goes first (if I don't break it here first). If you don't like mailing lists, I suggest you continue to keep an eye on this page or at any one of the other Liz sites. [Thanks to Truck for the design idea.]


09-19-09: EXILE IN GUYVILLE ON "50 ESSENTIAL WOMEN-IN-MUSIC ALBUMS" LIST
From Flavorwire:

Exile in Guyville (1993)
Liz Phair

Years before Sex And The City made female sexual frankness popular, Liz Phair was singing about blowjobs and churning out f-bombs assembly line-style on her debut album Exile In Guyville. The low-fi indie rock movement of the early nineties had found its poster girl in Phair, with her deadpan delivery and striking but approachable beauty, as she emerged from Chicago's underground music scene alongside Urge Overkill and Smashing Pumpkins. She was the cool girl-next-door who could hang with the guys even if, underneath it all, she's as traditional as Donna Reed. When she sings, "I want all that stupid old shit like letters and sodas," on "Fuck And Run" you can’t help but wonder if all of her boasting on "Flower" was just for show. It's this paradox that makes Guyville so unforgettable: Liz Phair is the original "just a girl in the world," trying to find her place with frankness and a guitar.

[Thanks to wooden and alone from the Liz Phair Forum for the link.]


09-11-09: THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE FEATURING LIZ'S SCORE, ON THE CW WEDNESDAY NIGHTS AT 9PM ET
You can hear Liz's score on the The Beautiful Life Wednesday nights at 9PM on the CW, starting September 16th. Read a review of the show from Variety.

[Thanks to Variety for the review.]


09-11-09: LIZ'S "MESMERIZING" ON PLAYLIST
Liz's "Mesmerizing" is on a playlist from author Joanna Smith Rakoff. From the New York Times:

5) Mesmerizing, Liz Phair. All the songs on Exile in Guyville capture the baffling experience of being a young woman in the 1990s — slowly realizing that relations between the sexes were not quite as simple as we’d been led to believe by childhood viewings of "Free To Be You and Me" — but none more so than "Mesmerizing", in which Phair coolly admits that she longs to be alluring, though she knows it's "unwise", that she should be thinking about more important things. Which pretty much sums up my daily existence, then and now.

[Thanks to Joanna Smith Rakoff / New York Times.]


09-04-09: LIZ MAKES ANOTHER LIST - TOP TEN GIRL CRUSHES
Liz makes another list... "Top Ten Girl (Music) Crushes".


08-24-09: LIZ SCORES THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE
Liz has been enlisted to score the CW series The Beautiful Life (with Marc "Doc" Dauer). Liz has previously scored the television series Swingtown and 90210. More details here.

[Thanks to XRay from the Liz Phair Forum for the link.]


08-21-09: LIZ'S "H.W.C." ON A LIST
It's been a slow news year in terms of Liz, so when one of her songs makes it on to a list...

Liz's "H.W.C." makes the Houston Press "Twisted Ten":

1. Hot White Cum, Liz Phair: Granted, the song's actual title is the benign-sounding acronym "H.W.C." But with song lyrics like "My skin's getting clear, my hair's so bright / All you do is fuck me every day and night" and a chorus that consists of Phair repeating the phrase "Gimme your hot white cum" ad nauseum, why not just get that song title out in the open so that people will know what they're getting themselves into up front?

For the rest of the list, go here.

[Thanks to wooden and alone from the Liz Phair Forum for the link.]


08-13-09: LIZ'S ALBUM DELAYED TO 2010
From ATO Records (regarding Liz's forthcoming record):

"things have been postponed. Earliest will be early 2010. Thanks for listening and reaching out"

[Thanks to marcos from the Liz Phair Forum for the info.]


05-14-09: ANOTHER NEW LIZ SONG "FAITH & TENDERNESS" COURTESY OF BANANA REPUBLIC
Back in February, it was mentioned that a new Liz tune would be made available from Banana Republic via its City Sounds advertising campaign. Well, that time has arrived.

This summer Banana Republic celebrates the inspiration of urban life with the release of City Sounds Vol. 2, a new digital album featuring never-before-heard tracks from the nine music artists appearing in the City Stories national ad campaign, including exclusive first tracks from OK Go and Liz Phair's highly-anticipated new albums, as well as songs by Sara Bareilles, Ayo, Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba, Tommy Torres, David Garrett, David Sanchez, and Esperanza Spalding.

The limited edition digital album, available as a gift-with-purchase only in Banana Republic stores starting Wednesday, May 13, reflects the diversity of these artists, ranging from acoustic soul to introspective pop, modern jazz to indie rock.

From Stereogum:

Banana Republic says love song "Faith & Tenderness" will indeed be on the next Liz Phair album for which no title or release date is available. For now you can only hear it on City Sounds Vol. 2 which comes with purchase at the upscale retailer for a limited time. It's also got tracks from OK Go, Sara Bareilles, and Dashboard Confessional...

[Thanks to Stereogum for the report.]


05-13-09: LIZ'S NEW SONG "SPOILED PEACH" DEBUTS ON 90210
A new Liz song, "Spoiled Peach", made its public debut on 90210 Tuesday night in an episode titled "Zero Tolerance".

Lyrics I could decipher (underneath the 90210 dialogue):

"All of my life I've been living a dream and I can't wake up till I hear myself scream..."
"I called you to say I'm getting out of prison today..."
"We're getting out of prison..."

The 90210 episode re-airs Wednesday night (May 13th) at 9PM ET. Check your local listings, or watch the episode online.


05-12-09: LIZ WINS AN AWARD
Liz and Marc "Doc" Dauer were presented an ASCAP award for "the most performed television music of 2008" for their underscore for 90210 at the 24th Annual ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards. More details can be found here.


05-06-09: LIZ TO ATTEND ANOTHER BLACK-TIE EVENT
From Market Wire:

Carter Burwell to Be Honored at ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards on May 11 in Los Angeles

24th Annual Awards Celebration Salutes Top Film and Television Composers and Songwriters of 2008

LOS ANGELES, CA and NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire - May 6, 2009) - Composer Carter Burwell will be honored with the prestigious ASCAP Henry Mancini Award for Career Achievement at the 24th Annual ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards, it was announced today by President and Chairman Paul Williams. The composers and songwriters of the most performed film and television music of 2008 will also be honored at the invitation-only event, taking place May 11, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Attendees at the black-tie event will include the heads of music from most of the major film and television studios; directors Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Kinsey) and Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight); television and film producer Mark Gordon (Grey's Anatomy, Saving Private Ryan); ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams; ASCAP Board members Richard Bellis, Marilyn Bergman, Bruce Broughton, Dan Foliart, Dean Kay (Lichelle Music Company) and David Renzer (Universal Music Publishing Group); Alan Bergman; Ginny Mancini; plus many of the composers and songwriters behind the top box office film music and the most performed television music, including Sean Callery (Medium, Bones); Marc "Doc" Dauer and Liz Phair (90210); Cathy Dennis (American Idol); Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil (High School Musical, Hannah Montana); Bear McCreary (Eureka); Angelo Milli (Seven Pounds); Trevor Morris (The Tudors); Atli Örvarsson (Vantage Point); Heitor Pereira (Beverly Hills Chihuahua); Brian Tyler (Eagle Eye); and David Vanacore (Survivor, Apprentice, Ghost Hunters), to name a few.


Liz at PaleyFest09 / photo by J. LaVeris / FilmMagic
Liz at PaleyFest09
(J. LaVeris / FilmMagic)

Recording artist Liz Phair (C) and members of her band attend the PaleyFest09 event for 'Swingtown' at The Paley Center for Media on April 24, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by J. LaVeris / FilmMagic)
Liz and company at
PaleyFest09 (J. LaVeris /
FilmMagic)

04-27-09: LIZ AT PALEYFEST09
Liz and fellow band members attended a "celebration" of Swingtown at the closing night of PaleyFest09, along with the cast and other members of the creative team behind the series.

Okay, so who are Liz's fellow "band members"? It turns out that they're the musical team behind Swingtown and 90210. Pictured from left: Marc "Doc" Dauer, Liz Phair, Evan Frankfort.

[Thanks to Liz Phair for coming out of hiding.]


02-10-09: LIZ HEARTS BANANA REPUBLIC
From Billboard.com:

Sara Bareilles, Liz Phair, OK Go and Tommy Torres will join five other artists as the faces of Banana Republic's spring and summer ad campaigns.

The national campaigns will feature print advertising, window displays and billboards identifying the artists wearing the company's clothes. Banana Republic customers will receive an iTunes gift card with purchase from Feb. 17-26, redeemable for a free compilation of songs by the participating artists.

Acoustic soul singer Ayo, Dashboard Confessional, jazz artist Esperanza Spaulding, saxophonist David Sanchez and classical violinist David Garrett are also part of the initiative.

During the campaign's second phase, expected to begin in May, another set of digital tracks will be released by the same nine artists -- this time original songs they composed especially for the retailer's "City Stories" theme. Those will be housed on the campaign's microsite, where visitors can also access free downloads, videos and interviews with the artists and link to iTunes directly.

In addition to the advertising and digital content, artists will receive in-store play and have recorded voice-overs to introduce their songs. The in-store playlists also include songs by other acts that the artists recommend. Garrett, Sanchez and Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Torres will perform invitation-only acoustic sets at Banana Republic stores in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles on Feb. 26.

"City Stories" was executed by New York agency AR, with artist casting support by Starworks and music aggregation and marketing by San Francisco-based Rock River Music.

Banana Republic's chief marketing officer Peter DeLuca tells Billboard that the campaign began by targeting "the modern soul": shoppers between the ages of 25 and 49 who "aspire to a city lifestyle," says DeLuca. "We're really trying to establish the brand's vision of the city as an anchor point. Music is a key piece of the puzzle."

So is the online aspect, says DeLuca. "We wanted to do something that broke out from the way we were traditionally marketing in the past," he says. "We are definitely leveraging online as a means to deliver a large portion of the campaign and give a visual and audio component to the brand."

Artists were chosen for their diversity of genres, their single or album release schedules, and if they'd feel right in Banana Republic clothes. The campaign is kicking off just as Torres is releasing a deluxe edition of his Warner Music Latina album, "Tarde O Temprano". His new single, "Imparable", is featured in the Banana Republic compilation.

Slightly more information from Billboard.biz:

"Besides the clothes, they're focusing on showcasing talent, and it's great exposure for my music," says Torres. "If someone Googles me or ends up on my MySpace or Web page, that can only be good… There are Latin people that shop at Banana Republic, but also non-Hispanic, so I’m sure it'll be all new to them."

Torres said he was selected after the casting company, Starworks, contacted his management through his Web site. He says he was paid a flat fee for his name and likeness, and that production costs were also covered for his "City Stories" -themed original song—which his label will end up owning. A negotiated publishing fee and some performance royalties from online streaming and in-store play will also come from use of his music. "It's not a crazy amount of money, but it's respectable," says Torres.

Rock River Music creative director David Hargis, whose company commissioned the artists' original songs, adds, "The labels and publishers recognize that this was a significant opportunity, because Banana Republic has such marketing muscle with these print ads and billboards… getting a label budget to pay for a giant billboard in big cities, that's difficult to do."

[Thanks to Ayala Ben-Yehuda / Billboard for the details; Andy from the Support System Mailing List for the Billboard.com link; and XRay from the Liz Phair Forum for the Billboard.biz link.]


02-06-09: VIDEO OF LIZ AT SMITH COLLEGE
Liz visited Smith College back in October 2006 (cited in the 10-04-06 entry "Liz on Smith College Panel Discussion"). In July 2008, The Frisky revealed some details about that panel discussion (cited in the 07-18-08 entry "Flashback: Liz at Smith College, October 23, 2006").

Video has surfaced of Liz at that Smith College discussion panel over at Facebook.

[Thanks to XRay from the Liz Phair Forum for the link.]


01-29-09: LIZ'S FORTHCOMING ALBUM
From Billboard, January 24, 2009:

Drowned in sounds. (ALBUM PREVIEW)
by Jonathan Cohen

Album sales keep slipping, but if the trend continues in 2009, it won't be for a lack of blockbuster releases. Chief among them are several albums originally expected to come out in 2008, including U2's No Line on the Horizon, 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct, Eminem's Relapse and Dr. Dre's Detox. And there will also be plenty of new work from veterans (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band), country hitmakers (Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban) and teen sensations (Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus).

LIZ PHAIR TBA (ATO, TBA)

"This I can tell you: All my sloppiness is in there," Phair says of her ATO debut, her first since splitting with Capitol last year. "I fought all the way through, and I'm not letting anyone take it to a perfected style. It's not going to be Exile in Guyville again, but I'm using all my tools. I keep pulling it out of producers' hands, before they can do anything." The slickness of her Capitol albums enraged old Phair fans, but this time around she says, "It has mistakes in it. It has layered background vocals of mine that just make an overall slop, but it's perfect slop."

[Thanks to Jonathan Cohen / Billboard for the report.]


The Body Rocks
The Body Rocks

01-01-09: LIZ HEARTS THE BODY ROCKS
The Body Rocks isn't commercially available yet, but you can listen to Liz's contribution, "We're All Big Fans Of Glands", at The Body Rocks MySpace page. From that page:

The sonic spectrum of The Body Rocks is similarly kaleidoscopic – from pulsating funk to lilting psychedelic pop to punchy, Petty-esque rock. "You grow up," says The Body Rocks participant, alternative rock pioneer, and parent Liz Phair, "and you have all these questions when you're young about how your body works. I just thought it was such a wonderful idea to put to music the answers to all these questions. It really does tell you what's going on with the human body in a way that children can understand. They'll memorize it because they'll be singing along."

[Thanks to MySpace.]




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Last Updated: October 5th, 2009