By Laura Mojonnier
The last time Liz Phair figured so prominently in the critical discourse was back in 2003 following the release of her self-titled collaboration with the Matrix. While Phair retained her trademark sexual frankness on the disc and even produced a hit, “Why Can’t I,” the album rendered her fans utterly apoplectic.
What happened? Phair had been slowly moving in the “adult contemporary” direction for years – but the Matrix? The duo that produced Avril Lavigne and Christina Aguilera? If any one had lingering doubts as to whether or not the ’90s were over, this album was the fourth horseman.
With the reissue of her classic debut, 1993’s Exile in Guyville (Matador/ATO), slated for June 24, Phair is back in the spotlight. This time around, the questions she’s provoking about how music has changed since she arrived on the scene are tempered by a healthy dose of nostalgia. Newly signed to Dave Matthew’s ATO Records, Phair seems more comfortable than ever, even telling Billboard that she’s feeling “creative” for the first time in 15 years and is working on a new album scheduled for the fall.