Hi! I was wondering if anyone else is on Promosquad. I've been listening to the Jukebox today and I swear several of the songs sound like Liz Phair.
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what songs are you referring to? i've not come across anything yet that sounds like liz to me.

edit: okay, i just came across something that is liz phair. it's a song called 'Lost Tonight'. and i like it. i definitely want to hear more.

AND hear more i did. There are liz phair songs all over promosquad right now. I just heard a song called 'Giving It All To You'.

They don't seem to be much of a deviation from the self titled record, but that's just these two songs I've heard so far.

Signed up for Promosquad and heard two new Liz tunes. I also heard "Lost Tonight" and "Somebody's Miracle". As onlyglass stated there's not that much deviation from the self titled. There is however alot of that Matrix crap missing in the production. The lyrics seem to be superior too. I too liked "Lost Tonight" alot. "Somebody's Miracle" isn't a bad tune either. Going back over to Promo to see if I can catch "Giving It All You Had" Edit: OK just caught "Giving It All To You" and, IMHO, this song ROCKS!! Excellent Liz type lyrics and definately Liz playing guitar on this one.

Umm to the person who found this thing, props. Secondly, I'm iffy on "Giving It All to You"... it's got more rock edge than, say, "Why Can't I"... but it's still not awesome. It's all I've heard so far.

With all due respect Modesty, I like "Giving It All To You" but that's just my opinion and yes it has a harder rock edge than "Why Can't I"

God damn all you people and your vague descriptors! "It rocks." "No, it doesn't." "Not much deviation." "Superior lyrics." Geez!

And god damn my work schedule, for forcing me to tear myself away from this godforsaken 'jukebox' before I've had a chance to hear this new (presumably awful) Liz stuff!

Right, I'm on the site, but I can't operate.

Are they are new Liz Phair songs or not?

Ok, I've heard "Lost tonight". It's really intresting. I like it, but oh I don't know.

I wouldn't be dissapointed if this was the style of the new album. It'll be intresting.

Oh fuck, it's got me all excited to hear all the new stuff

o.O Part of me, that's Liz right,

That song is really good. This is so cool, all the new songs! Unless they're not her, and some weird girl with the same voice.

Edit: Oook, I like Giving it all to you. Too.

this new stuff is good. I don't think it's better than Whip-smart Liz, but I think this new record will be a really cool addition to my record collection.

More Edit: Wow, I'm going to be here forever. "Somebody's miracle" is also really cool. I'm soooo happppyyyyy.


Haha, Futher Liz edit : Everything to me is also really awesome! Oh Liz, you've made my week.

And Pareese, I fucking love you!!!!! Thank you so much

"Everything to Me" -- Jesus fuckin' Christ. What is the point of ANYONE writing shit like this? Especially LIZ PHAIR. This is like fucking Kelly Clarkson material. Seriously. It's hard to believe she would attempt something even more lame and generic than anything on Liz Phair, but it's happened. Hopefully it'll get better from here.

EDIT: "Giving it all to you" -- This is still really generic radio guitar-pop. And I don't hear anything that sounds like Liz's playing so far, although I'm presuming XRay was referring to the clean electric guitar that you hear at one point. I don't think that's quite her style. I get the feeling this was co-written with someone. By the way, I read some news item (searchable through news.google.com) that the leader of Better Than Ezra -- remember them? -- wrote songs for Liz Phair. I don't know what that means, and I only saw it reported in one place.

EDIT2: "Somebody's Miracle" -- Okay, I'm on my 3rd Liz song, and I'm already struggling to come up with words other than bland, generic, forgettable... Um, how about hookless? Couldhavebeenwrittenbyanyone?

EDIT3: "Part of Me" -- "Blue eyes/ bluer than the blue sky / shining down like sunshine" ... "breathe in / breathe out / you're the one thing I can't live without" ... "sunshine is all around me / feel alive cuz love is coming" ... This is not a joke. Or maybe it is. But these really ARE the lyrics to this song. What the fuck? I'm starting to think that maybe someone held a gun to her head and forced her to sing this shit, and now they're throwing all these songs on Promosquad, and they'll decide which one is the least offensive and put that one out as a single, and the rest of the album can be good Liz Phair songs. Because these songs are neither good songs nor Liz Phair songs.

EDIT4: "Lost Tonight:" -- It's like she's not even trying AT ALL anymore. Or someone wasn't trying (probably that god damned Better Than Ezra dude). "yeah / gotta pretty young face / and a pretty old soul / and a pretty old soul / and yeah, you know what it takes / cuz you're never too cold / you're never too cold / and i wanna get lost tonight with you / let me know if it's all right that i do / i wanna get lost tonight with you / cuz what you've got is what i'm running to" Could those of you who have heard this and professed a liking for it please elaborate on what you find so appealing about it? Is this the sort of stuff you usually listen to? I mean, it's okay if you do, but I don't see how anyone who liked, say, Whip-smart could hear this and think it's okay, or not at least be flabbergasted that this is the same person who wrote that album. Because any appeal -- and I mean any appeal at all -- that Liz Phair once had is nowhere to be found on this song or any other that I've heard so far on Promosquad.

EDIT5: Okay, I think the Liz portion of the playlist is over. Thinking about what I've heard so far today, I'm reminded of a Liz quote regarding the album Liz Phair and the marketing of it: "I'm convinced it's not schlock we're selling." Well, I've always contended that Liz Phair was one big box of schlock, but as it turns out, I just didn't realize how schlock-y she was willing to get. These songs on Promosquad are so piss-poor, that if this is what Capitol is banking on, I must say I don't think Liz will be staying on Capitol after this next album tanks. And tank it will. Because her core audience (whoever the hell that is now) won't even believe that it's Liz Phair, and the general public won't even notice it on the radio, if it ever makes it to the radio. That's just my prediction. These songs don't say anything or do anything. If "Why Can't I" and "Extra-ordinary" couldn't bring Liz Phair to even gold status (which is pretty pathetic), then these new songs are going to end her career. And I don't say that because I don't like them, I'm saying it because there's no way these tunes are going to 'shift units'.

Discuss.

P.S. rt6970 -- After you hear this stuff, I want you to look me straight in the eye and tell me without laughing (in a figurative sense) that you still don't think Dandy Warhols fans will laugh her off the stage at Lollapalooza if she plays this shit.

I'm jut glad Liz is showing signs of life.
And they all beat "Why can't I?".

they're not amazing, and they're not as good as Liz was, but they're..something.

Oh yeah, they're "something" all right. Ker-snort. But signs of life they are not.

No, they don't beat "Why Can't I". Give me a break. That song was heads and tails above all this shit, and by saying that, I don't mean to give any credit to that song. I'm just saying, at least that song had a hook -- cheap and bombastic as it was.

When did Amy Grant have a daughter? Oh my god. I'm going to cry. Please someone tell me this is not Liz.

not to be a spoil sport, but now that i've had time with these songs.

i must say, i am a bit worried. yeah, i kind of like "lost tonight" and "giving it all to you", they're cute, they're light, they're catchy. i've now heard "somebody's miracle" and "everything to me" and those are what's doing it.

now, let me say, i'm a really big fan of the self titled record. i think it's probably the most well made pop record i've ever heard. it's fun, and through all of the slick production, it's obvious to me that it's liz.

i'll still buy this new record, but as of now i'm worried. i'm open to pop music, but "somebody's miracle" and "everything to me" just aren't good at all. lyrics are trite and the music is trying too hard. maybe the rest of the songs are better, but. eh. i guess i'll wait until the record leaks or until i buy the record to get negative about it.

You haven't heard many pop records, have you?

Okay, the exuberance of hearing "new" Liz material last night has now subsided for me and I have now heard all five offerings. The only tune I like is "Giving It All To You" the rest are boring and unimaginative fluff. WAY beneath her abilities. I humbly recant my last nights post. I agree with JE, none of the five tunes can come even close to "Why Can't I" or "Extraordinary" and obviously no where near Guyville, Whip Smart, or WCSE. Hell, this stuff, other than the exception of "Giving It All To You" wouldn't have made it on to "Liz Phair"

not the case, actually, because i have. the non-matrix songs are still very much liz. they just have more production. the matrix songs are fun. it's a well written record and it's very catchy. the only reason i'm venturing to say it's the best is probably because it's from an artist i listen to regularly, but all biases aside, it's still a great record.

"Part of Me" is pretty fucking lame. It's barely catchy... it's so nondescript and everything-you've-ever-heard-on-the-radio. I guess Exile In Guyville was a big joke, because she is determined to make this kind of song again and again. I wish I could describe this song better... but again, the lyrics say it all.

"Somebody's Miracle" is almost a step in the right direction... but it also just sounds like the typical, pensive, mid-tempo cut (the cousin of "Red Light Fever," if you will). Everything is typical. It's also obvious by this time that Liz is struggling desperately to be something instead of trying to do something with her music. She's still trying to sell a persona... because none of these songs have anything to grab onto. They're right out of the box bland-pop.

"Everything to Me"... are you ready for, "Do you really know me at all? Will you take the time to catch me if I fall? Are you ever gonna be that real to me? Everything to me?" That second line there sounds like a part of a cheesy-ass country song. Also, what the hell is she talking about? "Are you ever going to be that real to me? Everything to me?" That last line is so... non-sequitur! I feel like one of those jaded-with-the-industry music critics as I write all this... but what the fuck is seriously going on here?

"Lost Tonight"- "You've got a pretty young face... and a pretty old soul!" God, the cleverness here is just beaming off the page. By this point I'm just saying "Whatever" out loud to myself.


Argh, everything here can be best described as "cute." Even that's a stretch... it's sad to see that Liz's intentions with her songs have changed so much. She's officially image-obsessed... and even Michelle Branch is saying WTF to her. Word, Michelle.

Louis

I can't open the stupid jukebox lol....what do I need to open it?

And it is it possible to rip mp3's of these songs?

damn, i don't wanna listen to it. it might break my heart.

(shaking in my boots)

After hearing these songs, maybe this is why Capitol has delayed the release of the new album until late September. They're waiting on better product out of her. Could it be possible that none of these songs will even be on the new album? Afterall, Liz supposedly had over 40 or 50 songs to choose from for "Liz Phair". Maybe she has that many in the can for the new album and Capitol is just feeling out some of these tunes on Promosquad. God I hope so!! I know she can do much better than this and, IMHO, if she wants any kind of future in the music business, she HAS to do better than this!! Than again, I know I'll get crucified for saying this, maybe her best days are well behind her. I'm still holding out hope however that that last statement I just made will end up being "egg on my face" and she'll prove me TOTALLY wrong!! Knowone is hoping for this more than me!! Please Liz make me look like a TOTAL ASS!!

I like your optimistic attitude. Who knows how many tracks the disc will have, but maybe these are like the Matrix tracks on the old ones, you know? I sure hope so. I have huge doubts, however.

Can we please hear more of that unreleased material from 2000-2002? Please!

Except that none of these songs sound like they're there to generate spins at radio or anything. They sound like the songwriters weren't even trying at all, let alone trying too hard.

If Liz was trying for anything, I'd say she's trying to get dropped from her label!

And another thing I don't like is that I haven't heard one fuck or Johnny in a song. God damnit.

Yeah, or anything that even resembles Liz Phair the Songwriter. Like a sense of humor, or a bit of insight, or anything that suggests what an intelligent, thoughtful artist she once was.

These songs would be great. If I was turning 12 today. No seriously, I do like them a little in spite of myself. They are not brilliantly constructed but they are charming. It's just another side of Liz.

That said, "Lost Tonight" is pretty good.

Edit: The lyrics! I think I've heard these somewhere before. Oh yeah, Hillary Duff's last record.

All I know is if these songs are the "highlights" of the new album, I won't be buying it. As bad as everyone has said "Liz Phair" was, it's a Grammy winner when compared to this new material. Sorry to say this Liz, but I'm sure there will be many others who'll share this same opinion when they hear these "highlights".

i finally listened to the songs and fuck, they burn. it feels like a slap on the face. what the hell is she trying to do? how could anyone be this suicidal? maybe she doesn't care about critics but that's only good when the music you're making is worth it. the songs are so generic, the same slap happy pop rock.
i too am hoping these are just remnants of the self titled album. they sound like it. one song reminded me of the drums in bionic eyes. they are so dead inside, empty songs. maybe people are correct, liz is going downhill and this coming from someone who sporadically likes the last record. she's not even trying. i think i just cried there and i amused myself with the comments box. i wrote "this is moronic pop" and i meant it.

but i still am hoping that this was not really liz. it could not be.

If the songs on Comeandgetit, Liar, Down, and Rapids are any indication, the "Liz Phair" outtakes are FAR superior to this lightweight crap.

I cried when i heard them! They are terrible. Part of me will probably be the first single, It's the best one for radio. I'm going to listen to Comeandgetit now!!!! Did I tell you my friend's band Ivy played Shallow oppritunities the other night. At the end the did a little thing where the guy sang a line, then the girl. they got a good response. People were shocked when we told them that it was Liz phair(most people know the POP liz. But they actually liked it!!)

Jeremy

Yeah, we should clarify -- should any 'esteemed' parties visit this message board and check out this thread -- that it is only I, JeremyEngle, who didn't like the last album. So this unanimous jeering is mainly coming from people who actually did like the Liz Phair album.

Now that's saying something!

/quietly sheds a tear.

CRAP! This is so hard to listen to on my slow ass dial up! DAMN IT! I wish I were at work!

I'm trying to listen to Giving It All To You and once I finish saying "I told you so", I'd like to say that the music is pop-hooky much like most of LP and I'm not at all surprised...it isn't challenging music but it'll be nice driving or cleaning the house music...not thought provoking, not brilliant...but fun to listen to. Looking forward to hearing the rest and I hope the album has some variety to it (ala WCSE). We'll see.

Everything to Me is kind of sweet...its alright. Very teen girl-ish though. But I really kind of like Lost Tonight...I really, really do. I hope its the first single.

These songs are fucking terrible. I'm really sad, she sounds like shania twain now. I never tought she'd willingly humiliate herself. Given, these are probably the singles, but they are soooooooooo bad. Though lyrically not AS bad as rock me, or favorite, but still awful. She has lost her mind.

Can anyone rip the files?

Okay, now all we need is a rave review from BionicEyes, and we'll all be pretty well represented!

Oh, and to sixdickpimp: Shania Twain is a little better than this, you gotta be fair. "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" notwithstanding, of course.

The songs are pretty generic. I was hoping for something with a little more "KICK". I dont think all of these songs are on the album. This is a research tool. The label may be choosing what songs they want to put on the album. Remember, these may also be demos......which means they are not finished product (musically or lyrically) But im a liz phair fan, and i couldnt care if she sang polka music. i'd buy it. I guess thats what separates REAL fans from negative FAIRWEATHER fans.

I don't think I agree. It separates the clinging fans from the disillusioned fans. I say this as a clinging fan.

Oh, Jesus Christ.

I haven't heard any of this stuff, though I am such a Liz apologist that I will probably call it the best stuff I have heard in years.

And the Dandy Warhol fans may boo, but I can't imagine 2 people out of 30,000 being able to boo anyone off!

Oh, good one, man.

I really can't wait to read your response to this tripe. You really should have listened before posting. What I'm trying to say is: Do as I say, not as I do.

I just signed up and will be listening as soon as I can. I am a big Liz apologist and I admit I probably cut her some slack that I wouldn't cut other artists.

I will try and listen as if she were a new artist and I will give an honest response. I gave an honest response to that song she did with that hack. That blew and was only worth a listen to people who are Liz Phair completists, like me.

While i am no FAIRWEATHER fan (shouldn't that be PHAIRWEATHER?) I wonder if I am a REAL fan. I'd like to think I don't swallow everything just because Liz is serving, but maybe I do. I guess that would make me a REAL fan!

we shall see.

Just heard the new stuff,

Jeremy Engle, for once we are in complete agreement.

Those songs were extremely unremarkable and bland and unoriginal. I might have rated them OK if they were just one song.

But I listened to 4(!) seperate songs and they were frankly indistiguishable.

I am a Liz apologist, but even I have my limits. I am a fan of pop music. GOOD pop music, which these songs were not.

I loved "Liz Phair", but if any of these songs had happened to appear on that album, my appreciation would have dropped tremendously. "Liz Phair" is a great album, my opinion of course, and none of these songs are even remotly close to "Why Can't I" which is the great pop record I always knew Liz could do. These new songs sound like Lindsay Lohan rejects.

And I guess the idea that Liz's appearance at Lollapalooza may have been a hint that her new stuff was going to go back to early, indie-rock, style Liz, well that thoery has been disproven.

I think the 2 Dandy Warhol fans may be joined by 29,997 other fans booing. Not me though. This stuff sucks, but, out of respect for the previous dozen years of great music, I wont boo. I will probably just not try to draw attention to myself as the guy attending Lollapalooza solely for the express reason of seeing Liz. If Liz is lucky, maybe everyone will use that time to relieve themselves and she won't be booed too badly. If she is smart she will simply play EIG in it's entirety.

Now the songs I heard were the songs everyone else heard. However the only info given were song titles. The artist was not named. I am holding out the remote possibility that it was simply a Liz soundalike. Though for the life of me I can't imagine why anyone would think mimicing Liz's unique vocal stylings would be a recipe for success!

Aw who am I kidding? It was her, the music sucks, and this tremendous dropoff in quality may signal the end of her career.

And remember, this is the # 1 Liz Phair apologist speaking! I was hoping for even a sliver of quality to cling too and give a good rating. But it was not meant to be.

Dammit Liz!

Liz if you are reading this. WE STILL LOVE YOU!!! Just please bring back the old you!!!!! I hope these aren't "the best of" the new record!! See you out on tour!!! I will always support you!!!

Jeremy

I'm stunned.

I was hoping the new songs would be a continuation of the comeandgetit EP. Cleanly produced, but undeniably well-written songs. The pop makeover didn't really work out, but at least something in that vein would appeal to her old fans.

These new songs, though ... Is Liz trying to alienate all of her fans, old and new? I don't think any of these songs will prove commercially viable; I really doubt they'll have the same appeal to radio listeners as the Matrix tracks did. Meanwhile, there's nothing about them that will appeal to her EIG/WS/WCSE-era fans either.

I thought the last album would, in the long run, prove to be her career nadir. These new songs, however, are the sound of the bottom completely falling out of it.

I was really looking forward to a new Liz record being released this year, but at this point, I'd rather wait another year and hope that she'll deliver something more promising than this.

this is dino the dinosaur's fault. i also thought that this next record would be a continuation of jeremy engle, hurricane cindy, very obviously protooled but clear, interesting lyrics. the lyrics to these songs are annoying and flat. if she's not capable of writing fine lyrics anymore, she better just go twee on us, be all cute and adolescent musically, at least it would be all contextual. but this.. tsk, tsk.
liz, i still love you though. i think i better listen to exile in guyville to wash out the venom.

the best or the least annoying song is getting to... damn, i already forgot the title. that one was catchy at least, still stupid but catchy. i rated it as "i don't like it" as opposed to "i hated it".

Liz can't just become old Liz. Have you ever tried to revive who you use to be? You can't. Unless you wish Liz'd be more fake by churning out tons of albums of what she isn't/doesn't want to be anymore...pretending she was still that.

"Don't tell me...all the magic's gone." The more you read WCSE, the more you think it was a goodye to old Liz.

(P.s. I also didn't like the self-titled. I already had WCSE, and was in awe to hear the new record. And it killed me ).

If you don't like new liz, don't buy new liz. Old Liz's records will stay with us forever.

If she's only capable of writing this kind of stuff, don't you all think it'd be better if she -- I don't know -- seriously started work on that book she's always wanted to write? I mean, do something else to make money. I'd rather not see another album from her ever again than to see her further tarnish her reputation with crap that I could have written better when I was 10.

or act. she could star in independent movies, earn back her cred that way. but i think she still could write. i mean, she was able to come up with "jeremy engle".
or maybe that's an older song.