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Elly Roberts reviews
Superego Records
- Released: June 2008
- Rating: 6/10
- Vote and comment on this album:
Fringe Californians seventh not much progression.
Aimee Mann has been rolling out albums for the past 15 years.
Her cult status has guaranteed her fans have been faithful since the soundtrackfor Magnolia. Smilers keeps the status quo solid, reliable, qualitymusic.
Not one for throwing caution to the wind, Mann has yet another one thatll appealto the fans, but its doubtful if itll catch the casual listeners ears. Her credibilityensures shes a musos magnet, with some 26 musicians contributing.
As ever, her singing is assured, forceful, smokey here and there, but not outstandingby any means. First song Freeway is about a bum whos happy enough onspeed, but hasnt got his priorities right no surprises there. It builds toa huge chorus and eventually becomes quite catchy, making it one of her popierefforts.
In sharp contrast she goes all melancholic for piano lead ballad Stranger Into Starmanand further-in Its Over and Medicine Wheel, whereas later shedelves into Joni Mitchell styled balladeering backed by a sumptuous stringarrangement on country-tinged Phoenix and stripped back Little Tornado.
Jaunty Borrowing Time leans back to her pop thing: the songs hook isthe subtle use of a Moog synthesiser. After the midway mark, her horn sectionunleashes masses of brass which stay to the end. By far the best track is thecool shuffle and beats of bouncy Great Beyond.
Lyrically, much is directed at the disillusionment with Californias empty andshallow lifestyle, a recurring theme over the years.
File under: Grower.
Weblink:aimeemann.comWebsite www.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Freeway
2. Stranger Into Starman
3. Looking For Nothing
4. Phoenix
5. Borrowing Time
6. Its Over
7. 31 Today
8. The Great Beyond
9. Medicine Wheel
10. Columbus Avenue
11. Little Tornado
12. True Believer
13. Ballanties
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.