Soberish

Liz Phair - Soberish
Critic Score
Based on 24 reviews
2021 Ratings: #449 / 753
User Score
Based on 160 ratings
2021 Rank: #842
Liked by 5 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
NME

It's a refreshing reminder of her brilliance, which is all around us in the next generation.

90
Albumism

Well worth the extended wait, Soberish represents the work of an accomplished, confident artist at peace with her place in the world, free to craft the songs she alone wishes to make.

85
Under the Radar

Soberish may leave certain critics and listeners feeling dissatisfied, perhaps longing for the old days, but Phair has persevered long enough to hold her own, coming fully equipped with the inimitable songwriting expertise, sardonic wit, and aching soul that made her so relatable to begin with.

80
musicOMH

Soberish marks the welcome return of an artist at last comfortable with her legacy and ready to celebrate it.

80
The Arts Desk

The whole thing is dizzying first time around, delightful as you burrow your way deeper with repeated listens.

80
The Sydney Morning Herald

Ultimately Soberish is a record that seamlessly nods to Phair’s past, present and future, while celebrating a new generation of music.

80
Spill Magazine

It is an excellent album, certainly one of the best Phair has made and she certainly has picked herself from wherever she was.

80
The Independent

Soberish is a record of push and pull, of doubt and regained confidence.

80
DIY

‘Soberish’ sounds more like her early work, with its lo-fi stylings and ramshackle guitars.

80
AllMusic

The appealing thing about Soberish is how it holds two thoughts (and sounds) simultaneously, a record that revives the spirit of Phair's earliest albums while casually leaning into her middle age.

80
PopMatters

On Soberish, Liz Phair pens a collection of tunes that marry her candid musings with polished, accomplished California rock sounds.

70
Rolling Stone

Soberish, her first album in 11 years, brings to mind the glory of Guyville and its 1994 follow-up, Whip-Smart, without feeling at all like self-conscious recapitulation.

70
Uncut

Whether she's singing about her pussy or the view of Lake Michigan from her penthouse apartment, Phair always sounds like she's having fun flipping off every last hater.

70
The Line of Best Fit

A cohesive record, on Soberish Phair sounds polished, clean and equipped with a new arsenal of songs about breakups, addiction and small glimpses into her inner workings.

70
Pitchfork

The alt-rock icon returns with tasteful, timeless rock arrangements on a record about friendship, sobriety, and the love she’d like to receive.

67
A.V. Club

Soberish is clearly a return to her roots, but calling it a “return to form” would require throwing out the entirety of her post-2000 output as an aberration.

60
Exclaim!

Phair is at her best when she confidently picks a lane. Soberish is uneven because of her indecision, but it's still her best album since 1998's Whitechocolatespaceegg.

60
Mojo

A mixed bag ... but a welcome return that promises much.

60
Spectrum Culture

Although representing a fully grown, confessional version of an indie rock legend, the end result is ultimately underwhelming.

50
Slant Magazine

The singer still has a knack for sharp melodies and lyrical gems, but the album’s sonic presentation falls flat.

40
The Observer

The Liz Phair who brought frankness and feminism to 90s alt-rock is sadly absent on this, her first album in a decade.

BaddieBaphomet
50

NO NUANCE REVIEW

I don’t know why this is the record you’d want to release after a decade of silence, but at least it’s better than “Funstyle”.

Phew.

Davibitt1234
64

Após mais de uma década sem lançar nenhum álbum, Liz Phair volta com um álbum bem melhor que seu antecessor, mas ainda decepcionante comparado com o que a artista já entregou no passado.

O disco tem uma produção medíocre e sem graça e uma sonoridade extremamente datada.

As únicas músicas que realmente gostei foram "Soul Sucker", que é uma boa e divertida musica pop rock e também gostei ... read more

Musicnerdd
50

The "not so big" comeback of liz phair

After 11 years of silence, liz phair, one of the most critically acclaimed artists from the 90's (and also one of my favorites from that era) comes back with a record including 13 new tracks. Although it's still so much better and definitely a good album compared to her previous record that was a complete disaster, but it's still a generic and kind of "ok" pop album that'd be forgotten very soon (unfortunately).
Favorite song: the game

whenthehissing
80

good comebakk

insomniblvck
73

Going from Funstyle to... anything not bad has to be the biggest comeback of all time.

87

Her best album since whitechocolatespaceegg by far, and two of her greatest songs (Soberish and Lonely Street) are on it. And honestly, I’d rate it right up there with those early albums, especially given how streamlined of a package it is in comparison to Exile in Guyville and Whitechocolatespaceegg

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Track List

1Spanish Doors
3:57
79
2The Game
3:29
76
3Hey Lou
2:42
74
4In There
3:12
74
5Good Side
2:54
73
6Sheridan Road
3:27
63
7Ba Ba Ba
3:41
75
8Soberish
3:50
67
9Soul Sucker
4:33
68
10Lonely Street
3:31
73
11Dosage
4:05
75
12Bad Kitty
3:37
70
13Rain Scene
0:47
45
Total Length: 43 minutes
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Added on: March 3, 2020