C O V E R		R E V I E W
		I should admit right now that when Exile in Guyville (Phair's first album) came out, I loved it. Going back to it now, five years later, it remains a very strong debut -- some good songs punctuated by several exceptional songs, with a few also-rans sprinkled in the mix. And that, hype notwithstanding, is also what you'll find on whitechocolatespaceegg -- and if the exceptional songs seem a bit thinner on the vine, it's more because Phair is a known quantity than due to any real loss of edge. Sure, this is a woman who's now married and a mother, but that didn't stop her cranking out the wicked one-two punch of "Johnny Feelgood" (a tale of empowered neediness) and "Polyester Bride", in which a self-pitying woman gets jolted back to reality by an unusually philosophical (and brusque) bartender. There's also the unexpectedly upbeat parental advice tale, "What Makes You Happy", and "Shitloads of Money" -- an ode to success, American-style, that somehow manages to remain positive despite its almost-condemning message. For those fond of Phair's introspective side, witness the quirky "Uncle Alvarez" and the richly detailed word picture painted by "Headache". On the downside, "Only Son" seems like maternal self-indulgence, and the Beatles-like "Baby Got Going" is simply unnecessary. Not too surprisingly, the best moments on whitechocolatespacegg come from Phair's work with (Exile producer) Brad Wood -- and trust me, it's worth skipping over a few dull songs to hear the newest fruits of their association.
	I N F O
Liz Phair Whitechocolatespaceegg Matador CD
		Review by Georgezahorasplendidreviewer

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