I picked this up today after reading sufficient comments on the audio improvement, plus it was on sale and includes the DVD retrospective. I understand the point that part of the original charm was its lo-fi, indie sound, but I can't complain about the increased vocal separation and fuller sound of the reissue.
There's been some interesting commentary on the significance of the record. The first I read noted how Phair has always worked backwards, singing about divorce and motherhood before actually going through it. So Exile is along those same lines - a masterpiece at the beginning of her career rather than at the end or middle. I'm not really critical of her later work, mainly because Exile wasn't this big revelation for me like it was for some, so her follow-ups were never some big letdown. And I plan to pick up her next album under Dave Matthews' ATO Records.
There's been some interesting commentary on the significance of the record. The first I read noted how Phair has always worked backwards, singing about divorce and motherhood before actually going through it. So Exile is along those same lines - a masterpiece at the beginning of her career rather than at the end or middle. I'm not really critical of her later work, mainly because Exile wasn't this big revelation for me like it was for some, so her follow-ups were never some big letdown. And I plan to pick up her next album under Dave Matthews' ATO Records.
