Brief pointless digression: I grew up near Chicago and spent a lot of time in the city, so naturally I was way too cool to listen to Liz Phair when Guyville came out in '93. Then for some reason I decided to pick up a copy last summer--holy god, it's one of the most jaw-droppingly great albums I've ever heard. If I can find a boot of the Girlysound tapes, I'll be happy...
I wish Phair well with her new material--I haven't heard any of it, but I hope it's good. She's a little off when she equates "indie" and "snobbery," though. The indie philosophy is a thing by itself; snobbery is often a component or correlative of that philosophy, but it's sad and kind of stupid when it is. Indie is (well, should be) a lot more about inclusion, the DIY approach, the rejection of corporate interests, etc. Non-indie musicians can still be worthwhile--White Stripes, anyone?--but I'm generally a lot more interested in what indie bands have to offer than acts signed to major labels. (Insert plenty of exceptions to this rule here: _____ .)
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