Whitechocolatespaceegg

Whitechocolatespaceegg
Studio album by
Liz Phair
ReleasedAugust 11, 1998 (1998-08-11)
Recorded1996–1998
Studio
  • CRC (Chicago)
  • Chicago Trax (Chicago)
  • Louie's Clubhouse
  • Ocean Way (Hollywood)
  • Velvet Shirt
GenreIndie rock[1]
Length51:10
Label
Producer
Liz Phair chronology
Whip-Smart
(1994) 		Whitechocolatespaceegg
(1998) 		Liz Phair
(2003)
Singles from Whitechocolatespaceegg
  1. "Polyester Bride"
    Released: 1998
  2. "Johnny Feelgood"
    Released: 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Baltimore Sun[3]
Chicago Sun-Times[4]
Christgau's Consumer GuideA[5]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[6]
The Guardian[7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
Pitchfork6.4/10[9]
Rolling Stone[1]
Spin6/10[10]

Whitechocolatespaceegg is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair, released in 1998. It peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200.[11] As of July 2010, the album had sold 293,000 copies.[12] Unlike her previous two albums, with themes of sex and relationships, Whitechocolatespaceegg focused more on motherhood and family, as Phair had recently gotten married and given birth to a son.

Reception

The album received generally positive reviews. Rolling Stone called it "engagingly intimate" while at the same time "playful and pop-y, with just enough dry humor". The magazine also praised the album for its storytelling-esque lyrics.[13] The Washington Times wrote that Phair had successfully proved she was "no longer an unbridled twentysomething but now, at 31, a wife and mother, [who] has grown as an artist as well as a woman."[14]

Billboard praised the album, noting "droll in her truth-telling, devastating in her offhand insights, and dazzling in her homespun rock dominion, Liz Phair is arguably the most original talent of the decade, as Whitechocolatespaceegg powerfully reaffirms. For track-to-track subtlety, poignant wit, and no- bullshit pronouncements that carry real poetic weight, Phair is the backstairs bard without peer...Phair is a truly affecting songmaker. Moreover, she can take the pop vernacular in all its jukebox/folk-pop/dancefloor familiarity and make it subversive again on superb material like "Uncle Alvarez," "Only Son," "Ride," and "What Makes You Happy." [15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Liz Phair, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."White Chocolate Space Egg"Liz Phair, Jason Chasko, Doug Stoley4:35
2."Big Tall Man"Phair, Jason Chasko3:49
3."Perfect World" 2:15
4."Johnny Feelgood" 3:22
5."Polyester Bride" 4:05
6."Love Is Nothing" 2:16
7."Baby Got Going"Phair, Scott Litt2:02
8."Uncle Alvarez" 3:52
9."Only Son" 5:08
10."Go on Ahead" 2:53
11."Headache" 2:53
12."Ride" 3:04
13."What Makes You Happy" 3:36
14."Fantasize" 1:55
15."Shitloads of Money" 3:39
16."Girls' Room" 1:46
Total length:51:10
Japan bonus track [16]
No.TitleLength
17."Hurricane Cindy"2:54
Total length:54:04

Personnel

  • Liz Phair – guitar, piano, vocals
  • Leroy Bach – acoustic bass
  • Scott Bennett – organ, bass guitar, drums
  • Bill Berry – bongos
  • Peter Buck – guitar
  • Jason Chasko – bass, guitar, piano, drums, background vocals
  • Nathan December – guitar, electric guitar
  • Tommy Furar – bass
  • John Hiler – organ, piano, keyboards, background vocals
  • Scott Litt – acoustic guitar, bass, harmonica, violin, drums, keyboards, background vocals
  • Scott McCaughey – guitar
  • Mike Mills – bass
  • Troy Niedhart – accordion
  • Ed Tinley – guitar, clapping
  • Randy Wilson – keyboards
  • Brad Wood – organ, bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, background vocals, clapping, drum machine

Production

  • Producers: Liz Phair, Jason Chasko, Scott Litt, Brad Wood
  • Engineers: John Hiler, Liquid Grooves, Chris Sabold, David Schiffman, Ed Tinley, Brad Wood
  • Assistant engineers: Victor Janacua, Matt Judah, Brad Kopplin, Julie Last, Chris Sabold, Al Sanderson, David Schiffman
  • Mixing: Victor Janacua, Tom Lord-Alge, Brad Wood
  • Mastering: Ted Jensen, Katrin Thomas
  • Programming: John Hiler, Randy Wilson
  • Loops: Liquid Grooves
  • Treatments: Scott Litt
  • Art direction: Liz Phair, Frank Longo, Jon Mathias, Mark O.

Charts

Chart (1998) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[11] 35
Canada Albums Chart[17] 69

References

  1. ^ a b Chonin, Neva (July 30, 1998). "Whitechocolatespaceegg". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "whitechocolatespaceegg – Liz Phair". AllMusic. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  3. ^ Considine, J. D. (September 13, 1998). "A shocking, conflicted Phair to remember". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  4. ^ DeRogatis, Jim (August 11, 1998). "Fun Phair // New album soars despite slow start". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  6. ^ Browne, David (August 14, 1998). "whitechocolatespaceegg". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  7. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (March 5, 1999). "Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg (Matador)". The Guardian.
  8. ^ Hochman, Steve (August 9, 1998). "Liz Phair, 'Whitechocolatespaceegg,' Matador/Capitol". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  9. ^ Moll, Susan (August 1998). "Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  10. ^ Lukas, Paul (September 1998). "Liz Phair: whitechocolatespaceegg". Spin. 14 (9): 186–87. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  11. ^ a b allmusic ((( whitechocolatespaceegg > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))
  12. ^ "Ask Billboard: Kylie 'Fever'". Billboard. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  13. ^ Whitechocolatespaceegg : Liz Phair : Review : Rolling Stone
  14. ^ Liz Phair grows confident about music. (Arts) | Article from The Washington Times [dead link]
  15. ^ "Reviews & Previews" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 1 August 1998. p. 18. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  16. ^ "ホワイトチョコレートスペースエッグ | リズ・フェア".
  17. ^ "Item". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.
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