#50/51: Exile on Blogspot

Liz Phair said that her 1993 debut album, Exile in Guyville, is a direct song-by-song response to the Rolling Stones' classic Exile on Main St. Since both albums are on the list, we decided to do a back to back comparison of the two albums. No disrespect to Ms. Phair, but neither of us really see the connection - besides the fact that they are both great albums.

The Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St. (1975)

Zack: God bless the Rolling Stones. On second thought, upon closer examination of Keith Richards’ face I’ve come to the conclusion that Satan is the more likely culprit of their success. The Rolling Stones will always be the quintessential rock band to me. They’re just, quite frankly, rock and roll fucking personified. This album is proof. Exile on Main St. may be their best work (although I will almost definitely say that for all five of the other Stones albums on this list).  There are fast paced tracks like All Down the Line complimented by slower songs like the always classic Shine a Light. They vary their instrumentation to include harmonicas, trumpets, and pianos on top of the core rock staples, but it never throws anything off or seems too much. More importantly, they do it all while showcasing their blues roots that have made them pivotal transitional figures in musical history. It is these blues roots that have me placing them above other classic bands of the same era of a more pop rock persuasion.

Favorite Tracks: Shine a Light; Ventilator Blues; Sweet Virginia

Emily: This album clearly draws on blues influences, but in no way is it strictly a blues album. It’s a mix of British rock with a rootsy American blues sensibility. The Stones are rock through and through, but instrumental touches like horns and harmonica really bring out the unique bluesy edge. My personal favorites are the fast-paced tracks that give each band member and instrument their time to shine. Each song on this album has a different sound, but you can always tell that it’s the Stones – that’s why they’re classic.

Favorite Tracks: All Down the Line; Shine a Light; Loving Cup

Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville (1993)

Emily: While listening to this album, I sometimes felt like I was spying on Liz Phair’s private life. She writes music as if it were a diary, and some of what she sings is so private I don’t know how she could release it to the world. Phair sings frankly about modern relationships – sex, emotions, and all. She’s clearly sexually charged – just listen to Flower, a TMI revelation of exactly what Phair wants out of a man – but she’s emotionally charged as well. Songs such as Fuck and Run reveal her desire for a normal relationship, rather than “another year alone, fuck and run.” The spare instrumentation, often just Phair singing with her acoustic guitar, enhance the intimate feel of the album. Although I don’t really see the connection to the Stones, I can feel a connection with Liz Phair.

Favorite Tracks: Fuck and Run; Never Said; Strange Loop

Zack: One concept that Liz Phair is not familiar with is TMI. Her songs are often laden with intimate details about her amorous encounters that leave the listener wondering, “Did she really just say that?” The best way to describe her work on Exile in Guyville is honest. It is precisely this honesty that leads me to believe that this album is far from a so-called track-by-track response to Exile on Main St. It is just too personal to be anything other than a confession of sorts. Take the song Flower, for example. In this track, she tells the object of the song, and I am quoting here, “Everytime I see your face I get all wet between my legs,” “I want to fuck you like a dog,” “I want to be your blowjob queen,” and my personal favorite, “I'll fuck you till your dick is blue.” There are two things to note from those lyrics. One, they all sound intriguing. She can go ahead and sign me up. Two, they have remarkably little to do with the corresponding song Let It Loose, which is about having some drinks and unwinding with your bros.  Granted, my interpretation of Let it Loose was itself pretty loose, but the point remains valid. This album is more about Liz Phair airing out her deepest and darkest secrets for the whole world to hear rather than some conceptual response. That being said, it is still a fantastic piece of work that is intimate and personal. You really feel like you get to know Liz Phair from listening to this album. What you learn may offend some listeners, but others will be most…uh…let’s call it intrigued.

Favorite Tracks: Flower; Never Said; Stratford-on-Guy