Phair’s first new album in five years – Funstyle – enters the music marketplace Oct. 19. Bundled with the new release will be a second CD, Girlysound, a collection of demos and obscure tracks predating Phair’s 1993 debut, Exile In Guyville.
Packaged as a two-CD set, the Funstyle / Girlysound combo marks the artist’s beginnings as well as where she is musically in 2010. During the early 1990s Phair distributed her music via cassette tapes under the “Girlysound” moniker, leading to her signing with Matador Records in 1992 with some of the tracks evolving into the songs that appeared on Exile in Guyville.
Apparently, the songs on Funstyle caught more than a few people by surprise. Earlier this summer, Phair posted a message on her website saying the new tunes didn’t exactly please her label or those tasked with managing her career.
“You were never supposed to hear these songs,” Phair wrote. “These songs lost me my management, my record deal and a lot of nights of sleep.
“Yes, I rapped one of them. I’m as surprised as you are. But here is the thing you need to know about these songs and the ones coming next: These are all me. Love them, or hate them, but don’t mistake them for anything other than an entirely personal, un-tethered-from-the-machine, free-for-all view of the world, refracted through my own crazy lens.
“This is my journey. I’ll keep sending you postcards.”
Phair has scheduled a short West Coast tour during the days leading up to the Funstyle / Girlysound release. Beginning in San Diego County’s Solana Beach at the Belly Up Tavern Oct. 5; Phair also plays the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles Oct. 8; San Francisco’s The Independent Oct. 10; Seattle’s Crocodile Café Oct. 12; Portland’s Doug Fir Lounge Oct. 13 and Vancouver’s Venue Oct. 15.
Phair will also appear at Matador Records’ birthday celebration – Matador At 21 Oct. 1-3 – at The Palms in Las Vegas.
For more information, click here for LizPhair.com.