Aimee Mann: #@%&*! Smilers

Elly Roberts reviews

Aimee Mann: #@%&*! Smilers
Distributed by
Superego RecordsCover

  • Released: June 2008
  • Rating: 6/10
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Fringe Californian’s 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 that’ll appealto the fans, but it’s doubtful if it’ll catch the casual listener’s ears. Her credibilityensures she’s 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 who’s happy enough onspeed, but hasn’t 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 It’s 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 song’s 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 California’s 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. It’s Over
7. 31 Today
8. The Great Beyond
9. Medicine Wheel
10. Columbus Avenue
11. Little Tornado
12. True Believer
13. Ballanties

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