Somebody's Miracle
| Somebody's Miracle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Liz Phair | ||||
| Released | October 4, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | Late 2004-Mid 2005 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, alternative rock, adult contemporary | |||
| Length | 58:16 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer |
John Alagia John Shanks Dino Meneghin Joe Zook | |||
| Liz Phair chronology | ||||
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Somebody's Miracle is the fifth album by Liz Phair, released on October 4, 2005 (see 2005 in music) on Capitol Records. From September 2004 through April 2005,[1] she composed fourteen tracks spanning from lo-fi guitar-driven to high-gloss produced tracks. Much like her debut album, Exile in Guyville, Somebody's Miracle was originally modeled after another canonical album, Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder, though only elements of this exist in the final product.[2] The first single, "Everything To Me" was released to radio on August 1, 2005. Somebody's Miracle debuted at #46 on the Billboard 200,[3] and has sold over 83,000 copies in the U.S.[4]
Album information
The album features a somewhat softer side of Phair, with themes of innocence, loss, and love. Many critics and fans accused Phair of having lost her edge. Phair responded to backlash by saying, "If you are an old fan and it doesn't fit what you need, don't buy the disc."[5] Prior to the album's release, Phair embarked on a short acoustic tour where she played in smaller venues, bars, and clubs. After the album's release, she and her band went on a more extensive tour playing at larger venues. Phair also performed the album's title track on the Charmed episode "Battle of the Hexes." She was also the last artist to perform on the show.
Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | (54/100)[6] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   link |
| The A.V. Club | (Mixed) 10/5/05 |
| Entertainment Weekly | B− link |
| Pitchfork Media | (2.0/10) 10/2/05 |
| PopMatters | 10/25/05 |
| Robert Christgau |  link |
| Rolling Stone | 10/20/05 |
| Slant | link |
| Stylus | B+ 10/7/05 |
| Village Voice | (favorable) 10/18/05 |
The album so far has been given a score of 54 out of 100 by Metacritic based on "mixed or average reviews".[6] One critic wrote, "Miracle contains the singer's most winning melodies to date, not to mention her most confident vocals."[7] MSNBC wrote that in comparison to her 2003 self-titled album, Somebody's Miracle was "less blatantly commercial, but still smooth, reflecting her increasing shift toward a clearer sound".[8] Rolling Stone, however, gave the album just two stars, calling her vocals "thin and dry" and the album as a whole "plain and forgettable".[9]
This was Liz Phair's last album for Capitol Records. Her next album, Funstyle, was released on the independent label Rocket Science Records.
Track listing
All songs by Liz Phair, unless otherwise noted.
- "Leap of Innocence" – 4:22
- "Wind and the Mountain" – 5:33
- "Stars and Planets" – 3:54
- "Somebody's Miracle" – 4:23
- "Got My Own Thing" – 4:34
- "Count on My Love" (Phair, Shanks) – 3:41
- "Lazy Dreamer" – 4:55
- "Everything to Me" (Phair, Shanks) – 3:19
- "Closer to You" – 3:37
- "Table for One" – 4:12
- "Why I Lie" – 3:21
- "Lost Tonight" – 4:02
- "Everything (Between Us)" – 4:34
- "Giving it All to You" (Phair, Shanks) – 3:44
- "Can't Get Out of What I'm Into" (Import Release Bonus Track, originally from Girly-Sound recordings, 1991) – 2:51
Personnel
- Liz Phair - Guitar, vocals, Vocals (background)
- John Alagia - Guitar, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond)
- Tim Bradshaw - Keyboards
- Sean Hurley - Bass
- Oliver Kraus - Cello
- Dino Meneghin - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Drum Programming, Lap Steel Guitar, Hand Percussion
- Bill Mohler - Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
- Jeff Rothschild - drums
- John Shanks - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals (background)
- Aaron Sterling - Percussion, Drums
- Joe Zook - Tambourine
Production
- John Alagia - Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Mixing
- David Campbell - String Arrangements
- Joel Derouin - Concert Master
- Mary Fagot - Creative Director
- Lars Fox - Engineer
- Ron Laffitte - A&R
- Tom Lord-Alge - Mixing
- Dino Meneghin - Producer
- Dusan Reljin - Photography
- Jeff Robinette - Engineer, Assistant Engineer
- Eric Roinestad - Art Direction, Design
- Brian Scheuble - Engineer, Mixing
- John Shanks - Producer, Mixing
- Allen Sides - String Engineer
- Shari Sutcliffe - Project Coordinator, Contractor
- Joe Zook - Producer, Engineer
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Billboard 200 | 46 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "Everything To Me" | Adult Top 40 | 27 |
| 2005 | "Everything To Me" | Pop 100 | 99 |
References
- ↑ Phair, Liz (interviewee) (November 13, 2005). Breakfast with the Arts (episode of television series). A&E Network.
- ↑ Dahlen, Chris (August 17, 2005). "Exile in Mainstream". SF Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2005.
- ↑ "Somebody's Miracle - Liz Phair". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ↑ "Ask Billboard: Kylie 'Fever'". Billboard. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ↑ Carr, David (August 2, 2005). "The Independence of Liz Phair". The New York Times.
- 1 2 "Somebody's Miracle Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
- ↑ Farber, Jim (October 3, 2005). "Liz Phair yearns for everlasting love — on her new CD, at least". Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services (The Star).
- ↑ "Liz Phair keeps it smooth on 'Miracle'". Associated Press (MSNBC). October 5, 2005.
- ↑ Sheffield, Rob (October 20, 2005). "Somebody's Miracle: Liz Phair: Review". Rolling Stone.
External links
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