Liz Phair recorded these songs on a four-track in her bedroom in Chicago, supposedly, and they've been circulating on samisdat cassettes -- I tracked down about a 19th-generation copy after Barbara Manning told me how astonishing it was. Her songs continually shock and amaze, not least when they appropriate melodies that other people have pulled out of the ether first -- I noticed "Double Dutch", "Head On" and "Chopsticks", among others. Watch for records on Simple Machines and Matador.

[NOTE: Can anyone tell me if Liz ever did put on any record on Simple Machines (was it the Chinny Chin Chin: 4 NY Bands comp?)]

[NOTE: Regarding the Simple Machines record... The story of "Beast of Spring"/"Carnivore" was that the song was intended to be part of a series of Working Holidays single for the Simple Machines label, run by the band Tsunami. Liz's was supposed to be the third single, but it didn't pan out, so a replacement band was used for that third single. However, rather than leaving the song in the can, Liz offered the track to Jim Powers who was starting up the Minty Fresh label. And there you have it.]