Liz Phair's 'Bollywood' is at least schizophrenic

​ "Bollywood" is the lead single for Phair's new record Funstyle, which has been released in tandem with a reissue of her classic Exile In Guyville. The end result seems to be a zero-sum game.

Phair's debut record was notable at least for her lyricism and its delivery, a colloquial and dead honest piece of work that was never quite reached again. That said: what the fuck? Even for someone sitting in the low curve of her creative career, "Bollywood" is a shambles. The song starts on the same token as Missy Elliot's "Get Ur Freak On," with jumpy ensemble bongos and, 'lo, a Bollywood-style rhythm. But where Elliot's song goes on to be perfect fodder for summertime FM, "Bollywood" tailspins into a bizarre rap/poetry slam on the music business, and space, and a dead poolboy, or something. After fading in some malevolent synth strings and some dramatic voiceovers, the song ends as quickly as it came, leaving you with stars and sparrows circling your head like Wile E. Coyote versus a mountainside.

Exile In Guyville is available from Phair's website.