Funstyle

Funstyle
Studio album by Liz Phair
Released July 3, 2010 (Digital)
October 19, 2010 (Physical)
Recorded 2008-2010
Genre Alternative rock
Length 40:26
Label Rocket Science Records
Producer Evan Frankfort, Dave Matthews, Brett Radin, Kevin Griffin, Doc Dauer
Liz Phair chronology
Somebody's Miracle
(2005)Somebody's Miracle2005		 Funstyle
(2010)
Singles from Funstyle
  1. "Bollywood"
    Released: July 3, 2010
  2. "And He Slayed Her"
    Released: May 21, 2012

Funstyle is the sixth album by Liz Phair, independently released on her official website on July 3, 2010 (see 2010 in music) by Phair. A CD version was released on October 19, 2010 on Rocket Science Records. It includes a bonus disc containing ten songs from her famed Girly-Sound tapes.[1]

Funstyle peaked at #181 on the Billboard 200. This was Phair's lowest charting album since 1993's Exile in Guyville at #196.

Background

Funstyle was Phair's first album after leaving Capitol Records. Speaking of this album, Phair posted the following message on her website:

How To Like It.
You were never supposed to hear these songs. These songs lost me my management, my record deal and a lot of nights of sleep.
Yes, I rapped one of them. I'm as surprised as you are. But here is the thing you need to know about these songs and the ones coming next: These are all me. Love them, or hate them, but don't mistake them for anything other than an entirely personal, un-tethered-from-the-machine, free for all view of the world, refracted through my own crazy lens.
This is my journey. I'll keep sending you postcards.

-Liz

The lyrics that appear on Phair's arm on the album cover are partial lyrics to the songs "Satisfied", "Bang! Bang!", "Miss September", and "Bollywood".

A music video was made for "And He Slayed Her", and premiered on May 21, 2012.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic51/100[3]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[4]
The Austin Chronicle[5]
The A.V. ClubD+[6]
Los Angeles TimesFavorable[7]
Pitchfork Media2.6/10[8]
Pop DoseFavorable[9]
PopMatters7/10[10]
SalonFavorable[11]
Slant[12]
Tiny Mix Tapes[13]

Funstyle has received mixed reviews from music critics. Reviewing website Metacritic gave the album a score of 51 out of 100, which indicates "mixed or average reviews".[3] Though the album's reviews were not generally positive, it was still better-received than her self-titled 2003 release.[14] Some reviews of the album were complimentary. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 3 and a half out of 5 stars, remarking "it’s actually terribly refreshing to hear Phair so loose," and stating the album shows that Liz Phair "is on her way to once again being a compelling artist unafraid to take risks."[4] Likewise, a review by Tiny Mix Tapes praised the album and stated: "she has crafted above all else an experience, and one that is entertaining and rewarding in ways that few records can be."[13] Other reviewers were far more critical of the album, however. Pitchfork awarded the album 2.6 out of 10, called it "baffling," and stated that the album was ultimately "a shrewd way to lower expectations."[8] Notably, however, Pitchfork gave "Funstyle" a higher rating than either of Liz Phair's preceding two albums.[15][16] The A.V. Club's Michaelangelo Matos was equally negative, stating that the tongue-in-cheek songs "aren't especially listenable" and "the seven straighter songs those experiments surround have just as little to recommend them."[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Liz Phair, unless otherwise noted.

  1. "Smoke" – 3:14
  2. "Bollywood" – 2:42
  3. "You Should Know Me" – 2:54
  4. "Miss September" – 4:24
  5. "My My" (Kevin Griffin, Liz Phair) – 3:32
  6. "Oh, Bangladesh" – 4:39
  7. "Bang! Bang!" – 3:44
  8. "Beat Is Up" – 3:19
  9. "And He Slayed Her" – 3:35
  10. "Satisfied"  – 3:31
  11. "U Hate It" – 4:38
Girlysound

All songs written by Liz Phair.

  1. "Miss Mary Mack" – 4:30
  2. "White Babies" – 3:03
  3. "Elvis Song" – 4:55
  4. "Valentine" – 4:14
  5. "Speed Racer" – 1:41
  6. "In Love with Yourself" – 3:56
  7. "Wild Thing" – 3:40
  8. "Love Song" – 6:19
  9. "Don't Hold Yr Breath" – 3:58
  10. "California" – 2:41

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Liz Phair : Funstyle (2CD)". newburycomics.com. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  2. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE Premiere Of Liz Phair's New Music Video For And He Slayed Her!". PerezHilton.com. 2012-05-21. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  3. 1 2 "Funstyle Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2012-09-15.
  4. 1 2 "Liz Phair Funstyle review". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  5. ↑ "Review: Liz Phair - Music". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  6. 1 2 Matos, Michaelangelo (2010-07-13). "Liz Phair: Funstyle | Music | MusicalWork Review". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  7. ↑ "Liz Phair's 'Funstyle': Interesting, even to hate - latimes.com". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  8. 1 2 "Liz Phair: Funstyle | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2010-07-08. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  9. ↑ "Liz Phair's "Funstyle": Great, When It's Not Shit". Popdose. 2010-07-07. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  10. ↑ Chiola, Enio (2010-11-08). "Liz Phair: Funstyle < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  11. ↑ Berman, Judy (2010-07-07). "Liz Phair’s hilarious novelty album". Salon.com. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  12. ↑ "Liz Phair: Funstyle | Music Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  13. 1 2 Dorof, Jakob. "Liz Phair - Funstyle | Music Review". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2012-09-21.
  14. ↑ ""Liz Phair" by Liz Phair". MetaCritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  15. ↑ "Liz Phair: Somebody's Miracle Album Review - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  16. ↑ "Liz Phair: Liz Phair Album Review - Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  17. ↑ "Mesmerizing – Liz Phair Interview". Mesmerizingtoo.com. 2010-07-10. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
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