Somebody's Miracle

Some tracks on this album, including "Got My Own Thing," "Why I Lie," and "Can't Get Out of What I'm into," go back to Phair's more cynical roots. (In fact, "Can't Get Out," dates back to the singer's early demos.) But it seems clear that her overall trend towards pop (exhibited on her self-titled CD from 2003) is continuing. And who can blame her? Exile in Guyville was a breakthrough, but it left her in a real bind. A decade plus later, a still-bitter Liz would probably seem tiresome and immature. A happier, hopeful Liz could be accused of going soft. Phair doesn't need her angry-girl persona to prove she has talent, but she may still need it to stand out from the crowd. After all, do we really need another pop song like "Stars and Planets" telling us "we all shine, shine, shine?" The question Somebody's Miracle raises is: can Liz Phair drop some of her attitude without losing all of her edge? --Leah Weathersby