Whitechocolatespaceegg is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Liz Phair, released in 1998. It peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200.[11] As of July 2010, the album had sold 293,000 copies.[12] Unlike her previous two albums, with themes of sex and relationships, Whitechocolatespaceegg focused more on motherhood and family, as Phair had recently gotten married and given birth to a son.
| Whitechocolatespaceegg | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 11, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1996–1998 | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | Indie rock[1] | |||
| Length | 51:10 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Liz Phair chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Whitechocolatespaceegg | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Baltimore Sun |  [3] |
| Chicago Sun-Times | [4] |
| Christgau's Consumer Guide | A[5] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[6] |
| The Guardian | [7] |
| Los Angeles Times | [8] |
| Pitchfork | 6.4/10[9] |
| Rolling Stone | [1] |
| Spin | 6/10[10] |
Reception
The album received generally positive reviews. Rolling Stone called it "engagingly intimate" while at the same time "playful and pop-y, with just enough dry humor". The magazine also praised the album for its storytelling-esque lyrics.[13] The Washington Times wrote that Phair had successfully proved she was "no longer an unbridled twentysomething but now, at 31, a wife and mother, [who] has grown as an artist as well as a woman."[14]
Billboard praised the album, noting "droll in her truth-telling, devastating in her offhand insights, and dazzling in her homespun rock dominion, Liz Phair is arguably the most original talent of the decade, as Whitechocolatespaceegg powerfully reaffirms. For track-to-track subtlety, poignant wit, and no- bullshit pronouncements that carry real poetic weight, Phair is the backstairs bard without peer...Phair is a truly affecting songmaker. Moreover, she can take the pop vernacular in all its jukebox/folk-pop/dancefloor familiarity and make it subversive again on superb material like "Uncle Alvarez," "Only Son," "Ride," and "What Makes You Happy." [15]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Liz Phair, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "White Chocolate Space Egg" | Liz Phair, Jason Chasko, Doug Stoley | 4:35 |
| 2. | "Big Tall Man" | Phair, Jason Chasko | 3:49 |
| 3. | "Perfect World" | 2:15 | |
| 4. | "Johnny Feelgood" | 3:22 | |
| 5. | "Polyester Bride" | 4:05 | |
| 6. | "Love Is Nothing" | 2:16 | |
| 7. | "Baby Got Going" | Phair, Scott Litt | 2:02 |
| 8. | "Uncle Alvarez" | 3:52 | |
| 9. | "Only Son" | 5:08 | |
| 10. | "Go on Ahead" | 2:53 | |
| 11. | "Headache" | 2:53 | |
| 12. | "Ride" | 3:04 | |
| 13. | "What Makes You Happy" | 3:36 | |
| 14. | "Fantasize" | 1:55 | |
| 15. | "Shitloads of Money" | 3:39 | |
| 16. | "Girls' Room" | 1:46 | |
| Total length: | 51:10 | ||
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Hurricane Cindy" | 2:54 |
| Total length: | 54:04 | |
Personnel
- Liz Phair – guitar, piano, vocals
- Leroy Bach – acoustic bass
- Scott Bennett – organ, bass guitar, drums
- Bill Berry – bongos
- Peter Buck – guitar
- Jason Chasko – bass, guitar, piano, drums, background vocals
- Nathan December – guitar, electric guitar
- Tommy Furar – bass
- John Hiler – organ, piano, keyboards, background vocals
- Scott Litt – acoustic guitar, bass, harmonica, violin, drums, keyboards, background vocals
- Scott McCaughey – guitar
- Mike Mills – bass
- Troy Niedhart – accordion
- Ed Tinley – guitar, clapping
- Randy Wilson – keyboards
- Brad Wood – organ, bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, background vocals, clapping, drum machine
Production
- Producers: Liz Phair, Jason Chasko, Scott Litt, Brad Wood
- Engineers: John Hiler, Liquid Grooves, Chris Sabold, David Schiffman, Ed Tinley, Brad Wood
- Assistant engineers: Victor Janacua, Matt Judah, Brad Kopplin, Julie Last, Chris Sabold, Al Sanderson, David Schiffman
- Mixing: Victor Janacua, Tom Lord-Alge, Brad Wood
- Mastering: Ted Jensen, Katrin Thomas
- Programming: John Hiler, Randy Wilson
- Loops: Liquid Grooves
- Treatments: Scott Litt
- Art direction: Liz Phair, Frank Longo, Jon Mathias, Mark O.
Charts
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[11] | 35 |
| Canada Albums Chart[17] | 69 |
References
- ^ a b Chonin, Neva (July 30, 1998). "Whitechocolatespaceegg". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "whitechocolatespaceegg – Liz Phair". AllMusic. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ^ Considine, J. D. (September 13, 1998). "A shocking, conflicted Phair to remember". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim (August 11, 1998). "Fun Phair // New album soars despite slow start". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (2000). "Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ^ Browne, David (August 14, 1998). "whitechocolatespaceegg". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Sullivan, Caroline (March 5, 1999). "Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg (Matador)". The Guardian.
- ^ Hochman, Steve (August 9, 1998). "Liz Phair, 'Whitechocolatespaceegg,' Matador/Capitol". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ^ Moll, Susan (August 1998). "Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 17, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
- ^ Lukas, Paul (September 1998). "Liz Phair: whitechocolatespaceegg". Spin. 14 (9): 186–87. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
- ^ a b allmusic ((( whitechocolatespaceegg > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))
- ^ "Ask Billboard: Kylie 'Fever'". Billboard. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
- ^ Whitechocolatespaceegg : Liz Phair : Review : Rolling Stone
- ^ Liz Phair grows confident about music. (Arts) | Article from The Washington Times [dead link]
- ^ "Reviews & Previews" (PDF). Billboard Music Week. No. 1 August 1998. p. 18. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ "ホワイトチョコレートスペースエッグ | リズ・フェア".
- ^ "Item". Library and Archives Canada. 17 July 2013.