2002 – Zonker.net

Fun fact, Aimee Mann is the only musical guest on Buffy to get a speaking part. That has not a lot to do with Lost in Space, except that two songs from the album are played during an episode. There’s a little more to this album than an intersection with nerdom, though.

Lost in Space is, at least in my estimation, Mann’s finest album to date. It’s not as energetic as Bachelor No. 2 or Whatever, but it more than makes up for that in the melody department.

Lost in Space has a rich, full sound to it. Little wonder, as there’s quite the cast of characters. Several songs feature a full compliment of strings, and more.

Continue reading ““Lost in Space” by Aimee Mann (No. 6)”

Music trivia time! What album includes songs written by Trent Reznor, Paul Simon, Tex Ritter, Sting, Hank Williams, and Depeche Mode’s Martin Gore? If you guessed American IV: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash, go to the front of the class.

American IV was released in 2002, and was the last album released in Cash’s lifetime. (Though not the last album with new material from Cash.) It’s a real collaborative effort, with appearances by Fiona Apple, Nick Cave, Billy Preston, Don Henly, and others.

Looking through my list of albums, I find Cash is a bit of an anomaly. Almost all of the bands/artists here are performing their own material. Sure, there are covers here and there, but for the most part it’s the singer/songwriter model. (Jacqueline du Pré is the other obvious exception.)

Continue reading ““American IV: The Man Comes Around” by Johnny Cash (No. 26)”