retroBlog

Aimee Mann’s back to basics approach for her latest album @#%&*! Smilers is refreshing and a welcomed change of pace following her concept album The Forgotten Arm. by keeping the arrangements simple and straightforward, Mann brings the focus back to the songs themselves. and fortunately, she’s got some great material here. Mann skillfully conjures up detailed stories and characters in her songs that are intertwined with memorable melodies. she makes it look easy but obviously it’s not that simple.
lines like: “I thought my life would be different somehow, I thought my life would be better by now but it’s not and I don’t know where to turn..” (31 Today) resonate with most of us that are dealing with “this thing called life”. oh, and the cynicism behind her singing “Go, honey, go, into the ocean.. into the great beyond ’til you’re good and gone and you can hide away for when everything goes wrong..” (the Great Beyond) is absolutely perfect. I love it. @#%&*! Smilers is a strong effort from start to finish. personal favorites off the album include - Freeway, 31 Today, The Great Beyond and Borrowing Time.

TrackList:
1 Freeway (Mann) 3:50
2 Stranger into Starman (Mann) 1:31
3 Looking for Nothing (Mann) 3:46
4 Phoenix (Mann) 3:56
5 Borrowing Time (Mann) 3:12
6 It’s Over (Mann) 3:58
7 31 Today (Mann) 4:52
8 The Great Beyond (Mann) 3:12
9 Medicine Wheel (Mann, Seichrist) 4:08
10 Columbus Avenue (Mann) 4:06
11 Little Tornado (Mann) 3:23
12 True Believer (Mann, Phillips) 3:32
13 Ballantines (Mann) 2:21

watch Aimee Mann’s 31 Today on youtube

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Tags: Aimee Mann