Tag: Aimee Mann

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Christmas playlist part one: Aimee Mann

Cover: Aimee Mann "One More Drifter in the Snow"

If the phrase “Aimee Mann Christmas album” seems weird at first, you’re not alone. Most Christmas albums seem like cash grabs, which would be weird for Indie-to-the-core Mann. Rest assured, this is not your standard Christmas fare. Mann’s not afraid to be downbeat and explore the somber side of the holiday.

Mann’s Christmas album includes a mix of standards and two originals, one by Mann and Paul Bryan, one by Mann’s husband Michael Penn (“Christmastime”). “Whatever Happened to Christmas” opens the album, a perfect tune for drinking whiskey by the fire, alone.

“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” is beautiful but not exactly joyous. Penn’s contribution, “Christmastime,” brings to mind hints of Elvis Costello It’s one of my favorite tracks on the album, but I doubt you’ll be hearing it on the department store rotation this holiday season.

Mann’s take on “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” is fun. It’s faithful to the original without being a carbon copy, with Grant Lee Philips doing co-vocal duties. It’s hard to live up to Thurl Ravenscroft’s original take, but Philips does an admirable job.

If you want to feel the traditional Christmas spirit, Mann’s take on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is what the proverbial doctor ordered. You know, if doctors ordered that sort of thing.

“Calling on Mary,” the Mann/Bryan original, is my favorite track on the album and feels a lot like Mann’s previous album The Forgotten Arm. It would have been right at home on that album. It’s also the source of the album title:

Calling on Mary is voluntary
Unless you’re alone like me
If there’s a star above, then it can look like love
When they light up the Christmas tree

And to all the lost souls down below:
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas
What’s one more drifter in the snow?
Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

Bonus Track “I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up for Christmas”

Off the aforementioned Forgotten Arm album, “Clean Up for Christmas” is about kicking an addiction in time for Christmas. Not exactly festive, but it’s a powerful and gorgeous song.

Tried to find a good YouTube version to link to, but to my ear the uploads I found were a bit off. Do dial it up on the streaming service of your choice if you haven’t listened to it before. Actually, just go ahead and cue up The Forgotten Arm and One More Drifter in the Snow back to back if you’ve got a little time and would like an antidote to schmaltzy Christmas tunes this week.

Back tomorrow with another peek into my Christmastime playlist. If you have suggestions, please share!

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“Lost in Space” by Aimee Mann (No. 6)

"Lost in Space" album cover

"Lost in Space" album coverFun 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)”

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“Whatever” by Aimee Mann (No. 18)

Album cover for "Whatever" by Aimee Mann

Album cover for "Whatever" by Aimee MannA word of caution before listening to Aimee Mann‘s Whatever – it may very well cause you to recalibrate your standards for songwriting. If you’re setting your standards by this album, it’s almost unfair to most other bands. Almost.

Released in 1993, Whatever was Mann’s first solo album – but certainly not her first time to take a hand at songwriting. Mann recorded three studio LPs with ‘Til Tuesday, and an EP with her first band The Young Snakes. Continue reading ““Whatever” by Aimee Mann (No. 18)”

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“Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo” by Aimee Mann (No. 54)

Bachelor No. 2 by Aimee Mann album cover

Bachelor No. 2 by Aimee Mann album coverBachelor No. 2 is the album that, if Interscope had its way, wouldn’t have been released at all. Instead, Aimee Mann bought the rights back and released it on her own through her website – a gutsy move in 2000, but it paid off for Mann and her fans.

Most of Mann’s albums make me unreasonably happy, but Bachelor No. 2 is wall-to-wall awesome. Let’s start with the opening track, “How am I Different?” It’s a perfect album opener, starting just with acoustic guitar, light drums, piano, and Mann’s voice. After a couple of verses, the music swells and carries you away. I love everything about this song, the melody, the bluesy guitar, Mann’s voice, and the lyrics. “Just one question before I pack, when you fuck it up later, do I get my money back?” Continue reading ““Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo” by Aimee Mann (No. 54)”