Liz Phair — Uncle Alvarez
Album: WhitechocolatespaceeggAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 795
Length: 3:43
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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There's a portrait of Uncle Alvarez
Hanging in the hall
Nobody wants to look at it
But Uncle Alvarez sees us all
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
Better send a postcard and keep the family quiet
He's not really part Cherokee Indian
He didn't fight in the Civil War
He's just Eugene Isaac Alvarez
We feel sorry for the wall
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
You're gonna make them sorry when you die
And it's a long way down
You're hoping for heart attack
Running around
And messing in this and that, and
Your beautiful wife keeps your life on a shelf for you
Safe in the bedroom where there's no dust or mildew and
It's hard to believe you were once a beautiful dancer...
Better just to shake it off
As you write your resumé
Don't think of Uncle Alvarez
And the price he had to pay
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
You're gonna make them sorry when you die
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
Better send some money to the Alma Matter
Hanging in the hall
Nobody wants to look at it
But Uncle Alvarez sees us all
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
Better send a postcard and keep the family quiet
He's not really part Cherokee Indian
He didn't fight in the Civil War
He's just Eugene Isaac Alvarez
We feel sorry for the wall
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
You're gonna make them sorry when you die
And it's a long way down
You're hoping for heart attack
Running around
And messing in this and that, and
Your beautiful wife keeps your life on a shelf for you
Safe in the bedroom where there's no dust or mildew and
It's hard to believe you were once a beautiful dancer...
Better just to shake it off
As you write your resumé
Don't think of Uncle Alvarez
And the price he had to pay
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
You're gonna make them sorry when you die
Ho, ho, ho, imaginary accomplishments
Hey, hey, hey, you visionary guy
You might even shake the hands of presidents
Better send some money to the Alma Matter
Comments (120)add comment
TJS wrote:
me too!
I love this whole CD. It's her best, in my opinion, and I have them all.
me too!
peter_james_bond wrote:
Why not follow this with McCartney's Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey? It's in the RP library....never played.
PS - There aren't many songs about Aunts....
And follow that up with Uncle Elwyn by Bare Naked Ladies
PS - There aren't many songs about Aunts....
George Santos favorite song?
Jelani wrote:
born in '67. Not quite a Gen Ex'er.
Generation X years are typically 1965-1980.
c.
born in '67. Not quite a Gen Ex'er.
c.
thewiseking wrote:
born in '67. Not quite a Gen Ex'er.
Remember Gen X? No? Neither do I.
born in '67. Not quite a Gen Ex'er.
first time i wonder if rating "ZERO" exists ...
thanks PSD and Bill !!
thanks PSD and Bill !!
Remember Gen X? No? Neither do I.
This is awful, and I'm a Liz Phair fan
Whitechocolatespaceegg and the hot-dog flavored water
I've always been a Liz fan, including this tune. I looked for meaning in her awkward phrasing.
But I just tried listening to her recent book, which she reads. It was horrible. So much so that it colors how I feel about the "genius" that I attribute to the work she's done over the years.
But I just tried listening to her recent book, which she reads. It was horrible. So much so that it colors how I feel about the "genius" that I attribute to the work she's done over the years.
uuuh that sucks 
peter_james_bond wrote:
Why not follow this with McCartney's Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey? It's in the RP library....never played.
PS - There aren't many songs about Aunts....
PS - There aren't many songs about Aunts....
Wonder who Uncle Alvarez is..... definitely not beloved by all...or her 
spigolli wrote:
Yeah, she's grown on me, I agree Liz is listenable, I wonder if she has newer material on RP. Bjork on the other hand grows on me like a goiter.
Yeah, she's grown on me, I agree Liz is listenable, I wonder if she has newer material on RP. Bjork on the other hand grows on me like a goiter.
mread wrote:
Disagree. Liz's is very listenable. Bjork's is OK. For true nail-scratching, spin some Fever Ray.
Yeah, she's grown on me, I agree Liz is listenable, I wonder if she has newer material on RP. Bjork on the other hand grows on me like a goiter.
Disagree. Liz's is very listenable. Bjork's is OK. For true nail-scratching, spin some Fever Ray.
Yeah, she's grown on me, I agree Liz is listenable, I wonder if she has newer material on RP. Bjork on the other hand grows on me like a goiter.
Hey, I know Uncle Alvarez... or his clone.
I used to work with him.
Liz hits it square on the target.
I used to work with him.
Liz hits it square on the target.
sarahbean26 wrote:
People really like this song? The lyrics are very 5th grade. I dont get it!!! But she is very hot and funny (to write this song). 
8-> 9!
lily34 wrote:
Totally agree.
fantastic cd.
Totally agree.
spigolli wrote:
Disagree. Liz's is very listenable. Bjork's is OK. For true nail-scratching, spin some Fever Ray.
. . . Liz's voice sounds almost as bad as nails on a chalkboard. Had she followed Bjork she'd sound angelic for sure.
Disagree. Liz's is very listenable. Bjork's is OK. For true nail-scratching, spin some Fever Ray.
boring to death. I'm sorry, but that's my truth. Girly Mc Mainstream 
MY GOD THIS IS CRAP
for whatever reason i thought this was rilo kiley...
love these lyrics.. reminds me of my father in law..
(him)
(me)
love these lyrics.. reminds me of my father in law..
(him) (me)I would not say this is mainstream or common. Nor would not say that it is good.
lee_sf wrote:
"Mainstream", "common"? I guess it's a matter of how one defines those terms. Her first three albums certainly do not fall into those categories. "Mainstream" and "common", to me, are more personified by genres such as "classic rock".
I WANT to like Liz Phair. Bought her first double album, saw her live at the SF Fillmore earlier this year. Her voice has personality, as does her songwriting, but it's all so... mainstream. Common, even. It's like, re Sturgeon's Law, she's right at 85%. Or so.
"Mainstream", "common"? I guess it's a matter of how one defines those terms. Her first three albums certainly do not fall into those categories. "Mainstream" and "common", to me, are more personified by genres such as "classic rock".
whoa ho ho
Why not follow this with McCartney's Uncle Albert-Admiral Halsey? It's in the RP library....never played.
PS - There aren't many songs about Aunts....
PS - There aren't many songs about Aunts....
Following Norah Jones is so unfair, Liz's voice sounds almost as bad as nails on a chalkboard. Had she followed Bjork she'd sound angelic for sure.
I WANT to like Liz Phair. Bought her first double album, saw her live at the SF Fillmore earlier this year. Her voice has personality, as does her songwriting, but it's all so... mainstream. Common, even. It's like, re Sturgeon's Law, she's right at 85%. Or so.
i thought i would hate her music but it's sorta nice
celadonstone wrote:
You nailed it. I knew there was another song with a similar theme, couldn't place it. Both songs are pretty disturbing. Good though.
Shouldnt this song be played before "Uncle Walter" by the Ben Folds Five...?
You nailed it. I knew there was another song with a similar theme, couldn't place it. Both songs are pretty disturbing. Good though.
I love this whole CD. It's her best, in my opinion, and I have them all.
wferrier wrote:
No keep this cover! And yes this is the first song I heard from this CD, I think it was on a movie soundtrack. . .
The cover certainly suggests a certain...flexibility.
No keep this cover! And yes this is the first song I heard from this CD, I think it was on a movie soundtrack. . .
The cover certainly suggests a certain...flexibility.
Xeric wrote:
No keep this cover! And yes this is the first song I heard from this CD, I think it was on a movie soundtrack. . .
Did you PM Bill about this, Lily? He usually is quick to fix such things, if they're really in error. . . .
No keep this cover! And yes this is the first song I heard from this CD, I think it was on a movie soundtrack. . .
lily34 wrote:age"
Oh well...
i totally agree! REALLY bugs me that this is the wrong cover and that whitechocolatespaceegg isn't listed correctly as the cd.
i love all the songs on this cd, but as this was the first one i'd heard, it may be my favorite.
fantastic cd.
* sigh *
Now it's listed as being from "whitechocolatespacelily34 wrote:
i totally agree! REALLY bugs me that this is the wrong cover and that whitechocolatespaceegg isn't listed correctly as the cd.
i love all the songs on this cd, but as this was the first one i'd heard, it may be my favorite.
fantastic cd.
Did you PM Bill about this, Lily? He usually is quick to fix such things, if they're really in error. . . .
starlisa13 wrote:
WOW... RP has the CD cover wrong, and the title of the album. This track is from "Whitechocolatespaceegg". And the cover displayed is for her absolutely crappy sell out disc, "Liz Phair", that came out 5 years after "White..." which has a yellow/white/black cover with a photo of her face.
Anyhow, this is my favorite track of of the disc, I love the story/imagery of a neglected/unrespected uncle in the family. I always imagined Uncle Alvarez doing a pretty mean Rodney Dangerfield impression...
i totally agree! REALLY bugs me that this is the wrong cover and that whitechocolatespaceegg isn't listed correctly as the cd.
i love all the songs on this cd, but as this was the first one i'd heard, it may be my favorite.
fantastic cd.
WOW... RP has the CD cover wrong, and the title of the album. This track is from "Whitechocolatespaceegg". And the cover displayed is for her absolutely crappy sell out disc, "Liz Phair", that came out 5 years after "White..." which has a yellow/white/black cover with a photo of her face.
Anyhow, this is my favorite track of of the disc, I love the story/imagery of a neglected/unrespected uncle in the family. I always imagined Uncle Alvarez doing a pretty mean Rodney Dangerfield impression...
This song was used as an effective opening in a film, which had a lesbian theme (Julie Johnson), but that's a red herring, as the film was really about intellectual isolation. Nice film. Great tune. Hot cover. . .
People really like this song? The lyrics are very 5th grade. I dont get it!!! But she is very hot and funny (to write this song). 
Love the song, CD and Liz!
Perfect- now-we're so sorry Uncle Albert! 
dkwalika wrote:
RE: The cover. . .
Move the guitar!
Ahhhroooooo!! Woof, woof!!
nice to hear my girrrrrl 
RE: The cover. . .
Move the guitar!
What is there not to like?
Shouldnt this song be played before "Uncle Walter" by the Ben Folds Five...?
omniphiliac wrote:
Compare album covers: (click here)
that's a cover of a cover.
i don't quite get the song, but i love her anyway. 
Compare album covers: (click here)
Always makes me happy to hear Liz here. A true blue New Haven girl.
siloco wrote:
Not having heard this record yet, I can't comment on whether the jeers she's receiving are deserved.
However, this song does have a pretty decent hook...
the album cover shown here is not whitechocolatespaceegg (which is much better than this most recent album). she did sell out a little, but now that she's older, she can do whatever she wants! though i still love her, the older stuff is the best.
radiozep wrote: I'm not even listening to the song, but just from the cover, she has changed (read 'sold-out') to main stream commercialism. I prefer to hear her in the Exit in Guyville days. She was different them. Now she seems to be just like all the other crappy artists that devour radio stations across the universe.
You're not listening to it, but you're making a judgement about it...based on the cover. Hokay...
radiozep wrote:
Great song, but for our sake I wish she would struggle and starve so we could sit around feeling good about her purity.
I'm not even listening to the song, but just from the cover, she has changed (read 'sold-out') to main stream commercialism. I prefer to hear her in the Exit in Guyville days. She was different them. Now she seems to be just like all the other crappy artists that devour radio stations across the universe.
Yeah, God forbid the girl make a living Great song, but for our sake I wish she would struggle and starve so we could sit around feeling good about her purity.
Not having heard this record yet, I can't comment on whether the jeers she's receiving are deserved.
However, this song does have a pretty decent hook...
I'm not even listening to the song, but just from the cover, she has changed (read 'sold-out') to main stream commercialism. I prefer to hear her in the Exit in Guyville days. She was different them. Now she seems to be just like all the other crappy artists that devour radio stations across the universe.
Can you imagine her fans back in the days of 'guyville' seeing this CD cover? What is she, Britney Spears with a guitar?
Thought this was great once upon a time...now it sounds monotonous, with self-satisfied lyrics.
she might not be the best vocalist, but I surely like the way she plays the guitar (and she can pose pretty nicely as well)
GChevy410 wrote:
I didnt like this song...but I'd do her
Exactly
mrrmt wrote:
that's not the cover of whitechocolatespaceegg.
But it's hhhhhhhot. I saw her on one of those free concert thingees on DirectTV including some interviews. She comes across as not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. But hhhhhhhot. I really like this song, by the way.
that has got to be the dumbest damn song i have ever heard
I didnt like this song...but I'd do her
That album art should be illegal to look at while sitting behind your desk at work...
dmax wrote:
Yeah, but she snores.
--
He's just Eugene Isaac Alvarez. We feel sorry for the wall.
Brilliant, really.
And has terrible morning breath, but she does make a mean omelet for breakfast!
I actually enjoy her often off-key but quirky songs a lot better than the stuff with which she has had pop success -"When I am with you, I can't breath" (or something like that) - I would expect that from Hillary Duff, not Liz Phair.
dmax wrote:
Liz can't sing. Once you get past that . . .
I have a big problem with her voice in places -- and she seems inexperienced.
So, no, I'm not getting past that.
JokesandJokesandJokes wrote:
I wonder if she wears thong panties??
no way would she ever put up with something so effing uncomfortable.
The real album cover:
Her voice is a little weird at times in this... like she's not being careful, and she gets out of key or rythm when not being careful?
Bill, that's true...wrong album cover. BTW, the "Liz Phair" album cover shown is her worst album ever.
I concur with another listener's comment...What the hell happened to Liz Phair????
mrrmt wrote:
that's not the cover of whitechocolatespaceegg.
that's not the cover of whitechocolatespaceegg.
Not a bad song but could use a pick me up here soon after the past hour or so of mellow tunes.
bigpomp wrote:
I love Liz. She scares me, but I love her.
:nodhead:
Daveinbawlmer wrote:
But yeah, I agree with you. If only she weren't off key... ;-) Likeable tune, anyway.
Why am I thinking Liz goes commando ?
Ah, our local rock station came up with a female counterpart for 'commando': G.I. Jane.
But yeah, I agree with you. If only she weren't off key... ;-) Likeable tune, anyway.
I like this song. It makes me smile because I know a few people like Uncle Alvarez. Also reminds me of the movie Big Fish.
JokesandJokesandJokes wrote:
I wonder if she wears thong panties??
Why am I thinking Liz goes commando ?
=P~
Charming, back when Liz was interesting.
Extra point for cuteness 
This song reminds me so much of Suddenly, Tammy!
I love Liz's stuff, up until that last fiasco that is. Now everytime I hear this kind of stuff (the good stuff) all I can think is:
What the hell happened to Liz Phair??
love this song! going home to dig out whitechocolatespaceegg...
This has actually grown on me. Kinda corny and pop-y, but so what?
Yippee!!! This is one of the better songs from whitechocolatespaceegg - glad to hear it on this dreary Thursday morning! La Liz...
Oooh! Let's see if we can get her to make a swear!
I like this song. It's cool. Alvarez must be quite the tall tale teller:
He's not really part Cherokee Indian
He didn't fight in the Civil War
He's just Eugene Isaac Alvarez
We feel sorry for the wall
moocray wrote:
i like this song because it seems like she's hiding something-- she sounds mischievous and deceitful.
mmmmmmmm...........deceit is hot!
I wonder if she wears thong panties??
I like artists who at least try to throw a curve into their careers. This is Liz's curve and I must admit..I like it.. a lot. Creative, listenable and interesting. Good add Bill.
i like this song because it seems like she's hiding something-- she sounds mischievous and deceitful.
mmmmmmmm...........deceit is hot!
I recognize some of her frailities as an artist, but she really is an artist. She knows how to convey messages, and, in the end, that really is what any art form is about, including music. This isn't one of my favorites, but I suspect it will grow on me the more I listen to it. I'm hooked on her, and have been ever since Exile in Guyville, one of the best albums of the 1990s.
i'm not the hugest fan of Liz Phair, but the video for "Down" on her website is quite cool.
click here
Radio_Man wrote:
I don't care what anyone says, "whitechocolatespaceegg" is Liz Phair's greatest album and one of my top 10 albums of all time.
Agreed. whitechocolatespaceegg= YUM.
I love Liz. She scares me, but I love her.
I think her out-of-tune singing may have damaged my sound card ...
jbwiv wrote:
Is there anything more miserable than listening to Liz Phair sing off-key?
Nope.
:(
Yes there is. Reading complaints about Liz Phair's "off-key" singing is a ton worse. Go listen to Celine Dion. :P
Originally Posted by jbwiv:
Is there anything more miserable than listening to Liz Phair sing off-key?
Nope.
:(
HEY! .... Whose off key here....? (Everyone?) ;)Is there anything more miserable than listening to Liz Phair sing off-key?
Nope.
:(
Liz Phair officially rules.
liz phair officially sucks
Ouch!
Ani certainly qualifies as a rally killer, its true.
She did it here.
But Liz....she rawks, no?
Liz Phair continues to disappoint me with her lack of productivity. Selfish of me I know. :roll:
I want more!
Agree. A great set. More Liz! On the other hand, regarding the buzzkill that follows, a little less Ani please. Long Live RP!
Originally Posted by Radio_Man:
I don't care what anyone says, "whitechocolatespaceegg" is Liz Phair's greatest album and one of my top 10 albums of all time.
Don't have this album, but everything I've heard from it sounds better than Exile in Guyville to me. The lyrics may have been good, but melodies were virtually nonexistant. OTOH, songs like this I've only heard when I saw here at Lillith Fair and opening for Alanis Morissette, and yet they're quite memorable. So this album :)
kevin
I don\'t care what anyone says, \"whitechocolatespaceegg\" is Liz Phair\'s greatest album and one of my top 10 albums of all time.
this was one of the best albums of a few years ago. her lyrics rock my world. go grrrrl.
Liz totally rocks. I love her, I love this album. Good upload Lily!!
:D
Liz is awesome, and this is one of the best tracks off whitechocolatespaceegg. I love the sarcasm of \"hey, you visionary guy.\"
Never got Liz Phair, never will, never want to.....
I think her best CD was Exile to Guyville - I suspect the record company had too much control over her more recent 'poppy' stuff that was likely designed to sell albums and reach younger audiences on the radio.