I disagree. Whip-Smart is not overproduced or bombastic and it's not a home recorded, minimalist affair either. Its lead single was a Modern Rock Top 10 radio hit, and it sounds like it's from the 1970s Classic Rock era. Even IT is less bombastic, or "produced", if you'd prefer I use a less controversial word, than…

Yes, it's bombastic compared to her previous releases and compared to everything else that had been put out by Matador at that point. Very heavy bass, mastered very hot, and lots of bells and whistles on the tracks. You've heard the album, buddy!

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I should add that I don't hold Phair's Capitol records output against her. The well dried up, she lost focus, she threw her hat into the ring, it didn't exactly pan out. She's still a good person, and her wit, originality, and sense of humor is still there—as evidenced by Funstyle (which I rather liked, apart from the…

I think Whip-smart is basically as good as Guyville. Same time period, same frame of mind, same guitar technique (not that anyone here will ever acknowledge her playing), basically same production values. A few of the songs came from the early Girly Sound tapes as did many on Guyville.

The lyrics you found on Google are correct. They come from the lyric sheet supplied with advance copies of the album by Atlantic Records; they've been transcribed online directly (and correctly) from that official source since 1995.

This "low-fi" word you journalists keep using. I don't think it means what you think it means. I don't really know what you think it means, though. I'm pretty sure it's spelled differently, too.