A couple of New Trier High School alums made the news this week: Liz Phair and Pete Wentz. Liz hasn’t had so much attention in years, while Pete is often followed around with his celeb wife, Ashlee Simpson, by the paparazzi. Both have transplanted from their respective hometowns of Winnetka and Wilmette to the West Coast where they have each been busy with new projects.
Liz Phair
Shocking everyone in the music world, Liz released a new album over the holiday weekend—the first in five years. On Saturday, July 3rd a link appeared on her rather elementary-looking official website where people can download her new album Funstyle for only $5.99. The album is definitely a change for the indie music queen and has made headlines on a variety of music websites: “Liz Phair’s ‘Funstyle’: Interesting, even to hate” said the LA Times and “Liz Phair: WTF” wrote the Chicago-based music site Pitchfork. It even made Newsweek: “Liz Phair came up for air after a five-year absence with the gonzo, self-released album Funstyle—which, with its purposefully half-assed invocation of Bollywood rhythms and jokey skits, left some of her hardest-core fans (including this one) asking the question ‘Whaa?’”
Check out her M.I.A.-esque song “Bollywood” streaming on her website where she actually alludes to our latest Yearbook subject (and her friend) Mike Kelley. You can also buy her new album here.
Pete Wentz
After he and his North Shore band mates announced Fall Out Boy was going on hiatus last year, Pete was left not really knowing what to do with himself. Well he finally found the answer! News of his new band the Black Cards came out last week and new updates have been leaking out ever since. Led by a mystery female vocalist, the sound is definitely dancier in comparison to the scream-o songs of FOB. You can listen to two teasers of their new songs, “Beating In My Chest” and “Club Called Heaven,” on their new website.
