Artist bio

Former leader of '80s one-hit-wonders Til Tuesday, Aimee Mann has evolved into a singularly crafty songwriter, and waded through years of label limbo to find success on her own terms, touring and smithing albums at a self-described pace.

Her first solo album Whatever coughed up a couple well-received singles, but a major stylistic leap marked 1995's I'm With Stupid, which should have had an arrow on the cover art pointing to her old record label, Imago, which delayed the release of the album numerous times after folding (losing momentum gained by "That's Just What You Are" being included on the "Melrose Place" soundtrack), despite the obvious quality of the elegant rock-pop compositions contained within.

Its follow-up was delayed numerous times as well, Mann eventually buying it back from her label Reprise and releasing it herself, via her Web site and Superego Records imprint. This coincided with pal Paul Thomas Anderson being so inspired by some of her new music that he wrote a movie, "Magnolia," populated with characters drawn from Mann's songs. Said songs in turn populated the soundtrack, and earned Mann an Oscar nomination.

The album, Bachelor No. 2, ended up being her biggest seller, and taking Mann's career to unexpected new heights. The addiction-themed Lost In Space followed in 2002, Mann continuing to ply her trade the best way she knows how, with sweetly crooned and delicately balanced tales of regret and depression told as by a masterful poet.

Albums by this artist

Bachelor No. 2 (2000)

'Magnolia' Original Soundtrack (1999)

Concerts

March 13, 2000
Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis

Aimee Mann

Bachelor No. 2

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» TROY CARPENTER | CO-DIRECTOR

Aimee Mann Bachelor No. 2 Superego, 2000 RiYL: Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Jason Falkner, suddenly, tammy!

Aimee Mann finally took matters into her own hands. After numerous record label problems stalled the release of her most recent two albums, Mann bought the rights to her latest songs back from Interscope Records and is releasing them on her own terms. Happily for Mann and her fans, her third solo album, Bachelor No. 2, is finally available from www.aimeemann.com.

Bachelor's tunes are Mann's most mature yet. She retains her unique quality to marry upbeat, elegant melodies to witty lyrics that exhibit a disenchanted but honest take on life and love. Given her career frustrations, it is admirable that Mann is able to parlay her feelings into truthful and enticing art.

The album features four songs that appeared on the soundtrack to "Magnolia," although "Nothing Is Good Enough" appears here with lyrics (an instrumental version graced the soundtrack). Mann's distinctive voice elicits instinctive comparisons to her past work, but multiple listenings reveal a new complexity of harmony and construction, as well as impressive lyrical depth.

"How Am I Different" paces itself well as the first track, as its methodic melodicism holds in the reins on the chorus until two minutes in. "Satellite" and "Calling It Quits" show off resounding instrumentation, string palettes and piano/drums interplay. The juxtaposition of synthetic and genuine percussion, organs and a horn section on the latter provides Mann with some of her most interesting material yet.

"Ghost World" drives by on a strong guitar line, as Mann describes the feeling of graduating from high school and not knowing what to do with one's life (which she admitted in concert runs through her mind about every five years).

Clearly a class-A songwriter, Mann also seems to be working with the right musician friends. She utilizes different collaborators on every track, but somehow the overall effect is consistent, lending credence to her arranging and producing skills. A short list of her comrades on Bachelor includes such notaries as Jon Brion, Buddy Judge, Michael Penn (her husband), Benmont Tench, Brendan O'Brien, Ric Menck, Juliana Hatfield, Grant Lee Phillips, and Elvis Costello, who co-wrote "The Fall Of The World's Own Optimist."

It is a triumph that Mann has released Bachelor on her own terms, and proven that the trials of an money-driven music industry can't prevent a dissed artist from creating some of the most affecting pop music in recent memory.

TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.