A complaint has been received about the quality and genre of some of the albums featured here. So in a pathetic attempt to get myself into his good books today features two albums I think will meet with CC’s approval.
Many many years ago, over 25 years ago, I remember seeing posters for an Aimee Mann concert, at the venue a mile or so along the road from where I lived. I was not at that time familiar with her work so never went, and I suspect I went to The Free Trade instead and gave the jukebox a few 50ps.
The first of her albums I heard was the second, a great indie-pop record. And after playing it to death I got the first one, “Whatever”, which cost me £5.99 from Polar Bear Records. “I’m with Stupid” also cost £5.99, brand new.
The first 6 tracks of “Whatever” are great pop songs, and for that reason alone every collection should have this album. That’s not to say the rest of the album is just filler, oh no, the songs are very good, but they suffer in comparison to those 6. If you’ve got a spare 52 minutes at work, just play it, you’ll feel all the better for it, and it’ll be time better spent than counting the paper clips.
The follow-up starts slower, the songs getting that little bit better as the album proceeds. Overall, it has a slightly harder musical edge, and the songs on the whole are less sparky and upbeat, but they have the same rather wistful sentiment, and the music suits the lyrics better than the predecessor. It also struck me that the sequencing was better, here’s the final track:
(I’ve removed the two minutes of nonsense that come after the song)
It’s a quality album, and again it should be on your shelves. My copy of the album has a sticker profoundly proclaiming that it features Michael Penn and Juliana Hatfield. I had to resort to the internet to discover who Michael Penn was. The same sticker overlooked the fact that Glenn Tilbrook and Bernard Butler grace the album.
There are a plethora of Aimee Mann cds on the shelves, all very very fine albums. With the exception of The Forgotten Arm.So that’s a great 105 minutes I’ve spent today listening to two very fine albums, on this sunny morning, before going over to the river beach for lunch and swimming.
“I’m With Stupid”: Second Is Better Than First, although some may disagree
Thank you kindly.
CC writes
That's you back in the good books George. I have four Aimee Mann albums including Whatever.
I don't have I'm With Stupid though so can neither agree or disagree with your rationale
Why not stream I'm WIth Stupid at work whilst counting the paper-clips?
ReplyDeleteI'd lose count!
DeleteI have a lot of time for Mann's work. Like both of these albums quite a bit, and I agree with your premise to boot.
ReplyDeleteMust say that Aimee Mann hasn't really troubled the scorers in my world but your mention of Polar Bear Records has given me a Proustian madeleine moment. Polar Bear was always on my circuit when I popped over to Manc for my quarterly CD heists in the 90s and early 00s. I did like that Put Me On Top track though.
ReplyDeleteI saw her at The Channel in Boston waaaay back in 86 ot 87 with her band Til Tuesday (still got my backstage pass!). Dinky Dawson was at the sound desk. Quite a gig. She cut quite a profile as a solo performer that night and I couldn't help but feel her bandmates were doomed.
ReplyDeleteI used to buy 45's from her at Newbury Comics waaaay back. Distinctly remember a U2 import with Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl.
ReplyDelete