Alternative rocker Liz Phair surprised fans when she posted tracks from her newest album, “Funstyle,” on her website in July. The eclectic set is the singer’s first release in five years and will be packaged with a set of demos and rarities from the early ’90s. But fans can also expect to hear a few firsts on “Funstyle,” ranging from Phair’s rap verse on the track “Beat Is Up” to the Beck-esque stoner rock on “And He Slayed Her” and the R&B-flavored vibe of “My My.” Over an Eastern-inspired background on the aptly titled “Bollywood,” she delivers a spoken-word tale of her failed past relationship with ATO Records, but it comes across more like a story reading than a musical number. However, Phair does showcase her singer/songwriter talents on acoustic ballad “Miss September.” Atop the slow tempo of the guitar-driven melody, she croons, “I’ve been happy too/Every day I want to spend my time with you.”
