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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Yep, I'm there with you. I'll even wear my favorite Mann tee-shirt in honor (illustrated portrait by Seth).
The Forgotten Arm was sort of a slow burn for me. Now it's my first choice when I want to listen to her. I'm sure I'll be wearing out the new one too.
Next month, the shows!
He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Just got back from Best Buy ($9.99) and popped it in...I'm already hooked on "Freeway!"
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
I went for the Deluxe Edition.
He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
I probably should have gone deluxe...not sure why I didn't.
I'm really liking it so far. While I don't yet own "The Forgotten Arm" it sounds akin to "Lost In Space" to me. It moves pretty quickly too...out of the 13 tracks, only 3 tracks are longer than 4 minutes.
"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
It got a 4/5 stars at allmusic.com but the review has not yet been posted, only the rating.
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Review just posted at Allmusic.com -
allmusic ((( @#%&*! Smilers > Overview )))
Arguably, Aimee Mann hasn't released a simple collection of songs since her 1999 breakthrough with the Magnolia soundtrack and its cousin, Bachelor No. 2. Her releases since then have been prominent and respected, yet they played as explorations, with 2003's Lost in Space floating in the ether and 2006's The Forgotten Arm qualifying as an outright concept album. With @#%&*! Smilers, she returns to simply writing and recording songs, a back to basics that isn't quite so basic, as it finds Mann livelier and snarkier than she's been in a while. That censored profanity in the record's complete title -- it's easy to see but not say or write -- is a tip-off that Smilers has a defiant cynicism rippling throughout the record, something that's welcome after the careful craftsmanship of The Forgotten Arm and the spacy sleepiness of Lost in Space. Although this could hardly qualify as a bold departure -- there is nothing surprising about the arrangements, which still bear the ghost of Jon Brion although he is long gone -- Smilers pops with color, something that gives it an immediacy that's rare for an artist known for songs that subtly worm their way into the subconscious. That still happens here, of course -- one of Mann's greatest strengths is that her songs unfold slowly, seeming indelible after a few listens -- but Smilers grabs a listener, never making him or her work at learning the record, as there are both big pop hooks and a rich sonic sheen. At its heart it's just a collection of songs, but it's that rare thing for a songwriter: it works as a piece of writing and a sterling pop album of its own.
"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Very cool Ron. I just ordered the Lost in Space mofi SACD last night. Now I have another to get...too bad it is not hirez. Maybe mofi will do it at some point.
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lee Scoggins
Very cool Ron. I just ordered the Lost in Space mofi SACD last night. Now I have another to get...too bad it is not hirez. Maybe mofi will do it at some point.
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LiS is one of my favorite MoFis, Lee...good choice! It sounds superb.
I agree, I hope to see "Smilers" out on SACD someday as well. MoFi always seems to do well by AM's albums.
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Marc Colella
I really don't think Aimee Mann can make a bad CD.
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Ditto. I'm digging what I've listened to so far.
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
I have to say that so far, I'm really disappointed.
I've been a big Aimee fan ever since Magnolia and am primarily drawn to the catchy aspect of her song writing. She usually pulls this off without sounding too poppy. Following two listenings, I have yet to discover a catchy song.
Hopefully this is a slow burn thing and I will end up loving it. We'll see soon enough.
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
I haven't been able to get Freeway out of my head...
Ballantines is also easy to recall without any assist.
Quote:
| Hopefully this is a slow burn thing and I will end up loving it. We'll see soon enough. |
Isn't that contradictory - slow burn and soon?
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
| I find with my first listen to her new CDs I immediately like half the songs while the other half don't make much of an impression on me. After 5-10 spins of the CD the second half of songs that originally didn't do much for me wind up being my favorites and I always wonder how it didn't suck me in on the first listen. |
I'm usually pretty similar, but so far with this album nothing has stuck. Maybe I'm just not in the right mood. I've been listening to lots of Metal lately.
"Shoot a few scenes out of focus. I want to win the foreign film award."
Billy Wilder
"This business has come a long way in the last 30 years, but why should I depress you"
I.A.L. Diamond on the Movie Business (1986)
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Eric Peterson
I have to say that so far, I'm really disappointed.
I've been a big Aimee fan ever since Magnolia and am primarily drawn to the catchy aspect of her song writing. She usually pulls this off without sounding too poppy. Following two listenings, I have yet to discover a catchy song.
Hopefully this is a slow burn thing and I will end up loving it. We'll see soon enough.
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WHA-WHAT?!?!?! Wow, I thought there were catchy songs au plenty right off the bat...31 Today, Freeway, Ballantines, Borrowing Time just to name a few. As per your other post, you're just in the wrong mood...going from metal to AM sounds like a tough transition!
In fact, I'm pleasantly surprised that it grew on me so fast...I wasn't sure how an AM CD released in the summer would hit me, but I'm digging it big time. I guess when I think of her stuff, I think autumn and winter due to the nature of the lyrics and the sparseness of some of her arrangements.
"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Looks like she's on Leno on Monday.
He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
I missed Leno, gonna have to check it out on Youtube. I also missed her at Bonnaroo (was a tough sell getting 3 dudes over to see her), but I will check her out when she comes to ATL in September!
"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Yep, Freeway. It was a done a bit slower than the studio recording. In fact, here it is thanks to Hulu:
He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Thanks, Cameron!
Wow, Hulu looks pretty good...at least it retains the widescreen aspect ratio.
You think it sounds slower? Sounds right on to me.
"Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it's just what you need when you don't know what you need, when you've got more questions than answers." - Bob Lefsetz
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Quote:
| You think it sounds slower? Sounds right on to me. |
Just a hair, but I could be hallucinating.
He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
really liked the album. Question for anyone, I really like the more upbeat songs like Momentum from the Magnolia soundtrack. Which album of her's has more songs like that?
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Re: New Aimee Mann "@#%&! Smilers" - 6/3
Aimee Mann? Upbeat?
If you like the Magnolia songs you'll want to check out Bachelor No. 2. About a third of the songs are the same as the Magnolia soundtrack, but they are consistent with that sound.
Other than that more up tempo songs are spread around across her various releases.
He was one of those people who would be neither a follower nor a leader, but only an aspiring heart, impatient in the failing body which imprisoned it. -- T. H. White, "The Once and Future King"
