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I agree that it's just a cut below "Exile." For example, the opening "Chopsticks" seems almost obligatory... the stereotyped ingredients of a "LIZ PHAIR SONG" are there: The ennui, the frank sexuality, the droning guitars, the dropped last word. It works despite all these Phairisms, but it risks self-parody. On the next track though, Ms. Phair rocks with abandon, and the sound is exciting and intense.

Throughout the CD, the technology is more advanced than "Exile." On Track 2 and 3, for example, background vocals bring more texture to the sound, but they don't sacrifice her minimalist, instrument-focused approach. "X-Ray Man" is superb storytelling a la Joni Mitchell with great 60's-style vocal overdubs and an instinct for just the right words:

"You're an X-Ray man/whitewall tire. . .iodine tan/ cheap unpleasant desires."

"Shane" is one of her most brilliant tracks on any album. It's a devastating parody of the leftist male poseur, indulging in Che fantasies to feel superior (and attract grrls), and then finding out he's gotten in over his head. "Go West" explores another familiar motif, the necessity of departures and the yearning, seeking allure of the road. A great tune, an instant soundtrack for the open road. The title track is simply puzzling, but "jealousy" is vintage Phair...honest, sexual, and personal. Her voice gets louder with the increasing intensity of jealousy expressed.

The last three songs are an interesting juxtaposition to "Jealousy." She celebrates independent, sensitive but strong, and ultimately triumphant persona. "I want to throw my fears away . . .Well, look at me, I'm frightening my friends, you better roll me home, you better roll me home."

This is a must-have for Phair fans, and for almost any fan of rock. Not quite as all-around excellent as "Exile," but this (and her next album) prove she's one of the best of the nineties. A superb album.


Up on it's own pedestal   November 3, 1999
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

The good thing about Liz Phair's CD's is that you can't justifiably compare them. Saying "It's not as good as Guyville" or whitechocolatespaceegg wouldn't work, simply because they are so different. Totally different styles. If you want another Guyville then you are not going to get it. If you want something different, a little quirky but heartfelt and very accessable then you'll like this CD. I like all of her songs best, depending on my mood. I admit I didn't like it that much when I first heard it cause the first Liz CD I had was whitechocolatespaceegg and secretly I wanted a different version of that. Suffice to say I didn't get it and after the shock wares off that this isn't what you expected, you can really begin to enjoy it in it's own right.


The good album between the two great ones.   November 22, 2000
 7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Liz's sophomore effort doesn't measure up to either her debut -- "Exile in Guyville" -- or her latest album -- "whitechocolatespaceegg" -- but it's a grab bag of good tunes and shows her beginning to progress from the sometimes awkward musician she was to the accomplished professional she is now.

Her songwriting skills remain top-notch here, but as she's not drawing on a lifetime of experience as she was with EIG or the years of marriage and motherhood she had before creating WCSE, her songs never have the richness of the first or third albums.

Still, Liz shows that, when all else fails, she can rock out ("Supernova") and just get weird and goofy ("Crater Lake"). More of an album to mine for mix tape tracks than something worth listening to straight through, "Whip-Smart" contains a selection of solid songs and some vintage Liz moments, from the not-for-prudes opening to the rocking and willfully opaque closing tune.

Not the first Liz album to buy -- grab EIG or WCSE, based on where you are in your life -- but one to buy after those two have taken up permanent residence in your CD player and mind.


One of the best sophomore efforts ever!   April 15, 2000
 5 out of 6 found this review helpful

How does that saying go -- an artist's first record is about their whole life, and the follow-up album is about the next six months? Given that "Exile in Guyville" changed my life forever, I was fully prepared to be disappointed in the second album by Liz Phair. However, "Whip-Smart" came through with another stunning lineup of songs whose lyrics sounded like she'd raided my brain (such as "Jealousy").

The melodies are a little more catchy in a "pop" way than on "Exile", but are just as addictive. There are more radio-friendly songs on "Whip-Smart" than on her debut effort. However, these do not overshadow or outshine those songs on the album that are less "single" in nature. Rather, they are equal contributors to an incredibly satisfying whole.


Second to Guyville   June 20, 2002
 5 out of 5 found this review helpful

If you want to know what Liz Phair is all about, get Exile in Guyville, her first album. It is a lot more passionate and groundbreaking. This is also a great album, but it is more mainstream and repetitive than her last songs. "Supernova" is her MTV debut, so it is great but not exactly an inspired original. I love every second of Exile and there are a couple of songs I skip over on this one.