Somebody's Miracle

Somebody's Miracle
Studio album by Liz Phair
Released October 4, 2005
Recorded Late 2004-Mid 2005
Genre Pop rock, alternative rock, adult contemporary
Length 58:16
Label Capitol
Producer John Alagia
John Shanks
Dino Meneghin
Joe Zook
Liz Phair chronology
Comeandgetit
(2003)		 Somebody's Miracle
(2005)		 Funstyle
(2010)
Singles from Somebody's Miracle
  1. "Everything To Me"
    Released: August 1, 2005

Somebody's Miracle is the fifth album by Liz Phair, released on October 4, 2005 (see 2005 in music) on Capitol Records. From September 2004 through April 2005,[1] she composed fourteen tracks spanning from lo-fi guitar-driven to high-gloss produced tracks. Much like her debut album, Exile in Guyville, Somebody's Miracle was originally modeled after another canonical album, Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder, though only elements of this exist in the final product.[2] The first single, "Everything To Me" was released to radio on August 1, 2005. Somebody's Miracle debuted at #46 on the Billboard 200,[3] and has sold over 83,000 copies in the U.S.[4]

Album information

The album features a somewhat softer side of Phair, with themes of innocence, loss, and love. Many critics and fans accused Phair of having lost her edge. Phair responded to backlash by saying, "If you are an old fan and it doesn't fit what you need, don't buy the disc."[5] Prior to the album's release, Phair embarked on a short acoustic tour where she played in smaller venues, bars, and clubs. After the album's release, she and her band went on a more extensive tour playing at larger venues. Phair also performed the album's title track on the Charmed episode "Battle of the Hexes." She was also the last artist to perform on the show.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(54/100)[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
The A.V. Club(Mixed) 10/5/05
Entertainment WeeklyB− link
Pitchfork Media(2.0/10) 10/2/05
PopMatters 10/25/05
Robert Christgau link
Rolling Stone 10/20/05
Slant link
StylusB+ 10/7/05
Village Voice(favorable) 10/18/05

The album so far has been given a score of 54 out of 100 by Metacritic based on "mixed or average reviews".[6] One critic wrote, "Miracle contains the singer's most winning melodies to date, not to mention her most confident vocals."[7] MSNBC wrote that in comparison to her 2003 self-titled album, Somebody's Miracle was "less blatantly commercial, but still smooth, reflecting her increasing shift toward a clearer sound".[8] Rolling Stone, however, gave the album just two stars, calling her vocals "thin and dry" and the album as a whole "plain and forgettable".[9]

This was Liz Phair's last album for Capitol Records. Her next album, Funstyle, was released on the independent label Rocket Science Records.

Track listing

All songs by Liz Phair, unless otherwise noted.

  1. "Leap of Innocence" – 4:22
  2. "Wind and the Mountain" – 5:33
  3. "Stars and Planets" – 3:54
  4. "Somebody's Miracle" – 4:23
  5. "Got My Own Thing" – 4:34
  6. "Count on My Love" (Phair, Shanks) – 3:41
  7. "Lazy Dreamer" – 4:55
  8. "Everything to Me" (Phair, Shanks) – 3:19
  9. "Closer to You" – 3:37
  10. "Table for One" – 4:12
  11. "Why I Lie" – 3:21
  12. "Lost Tonight" – 4:02
  13. "Everything (Between Us)" – 4:34
  14. "Giving it All to You" (Phair, Shanks) – 3:44
  15. "Can't Get Out of What I'm Into" (Import Release Bonus Track, originally from Girly-Sound recordings, 1991) – 2:51

Personnel

Production

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
2005 Billboard 200 46

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
2005 "Everything To Me" Adult Top 40 27
2005 "Everything To Me" Pop 100 99

References

  1. ↑ Phair, Liz (interviewee) (November 13, 2005). Breakfast with the Arts (episode of television series). A&E Network.
  2. ↑ Dahlen, Chris (August 17, 2005). "Exile in Mainstream". SF Weekly. Retrieved September 24, 2005.
  3. ↑ "Somebody's Miracle - Liz Phair". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  4. ↑ "Ask Billboard: Kylie 'Fever'". Billboard. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  5. ↑ Carr, David (August 2, 2005). "The Independence of Liz Phair". The New York Times.
  6. 1 2 "Somebody's Miracle Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  7. ↑ Farber, Jim (October 3, 2005). "Liz Phair yearns for everlasting love — on her new CD, at least". Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services. The Star.
  8. ↑ "Liz Phair keeps it smooth on 'Miracle'". Associated Press. MSNBC. October 5, 2005.
  9. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (October 20, 2005). "Somebody's Miracle: Liz Phair: Review". Rolling Stone.
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