at a glance...

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
First Recordings: '80s

Members:
Aimee Mann -bass, guitar, acoustic guitar
Jon Brion -bass, bass harmonica, acoustic and electric guitars, cello, drums, keyboards, percussion, harmonica, vocals
Bernard Butler -guitar, keyboards
Mike Deneen -keyboards
Chris Difford -vocals
Glenn Tilbrook -guitar
Brad Hallen -bass
Juliana Hatfield -vocals
Neil Innes -vocals
Stacy Jones - bass, drums, acoustic guitar
Peter Linton -guitar, vocals
Michael Penn -guitar
John Sands -drums
Clayton Scoble -guitar, vocals
Michael Lockwood -guitar

Bands in the family :
Til Tuesday, Young Snakes, Juliana Hatfield, Difford & Tillbrook, Neil Innes, Squeeze, Bernard Butler, Michael Penn, XTC

Notes:
Many thought Aimee Mann peaked in the early '80s as the leading member of 'Til Tuesday, but die-hard fans and sage critics know that Aimee has always been around since those early days -- working hard, writing and performing her own special brand of clever, well-crafted, take-no-prisoners, "adult-pop" classics. Still going strong and more independent than ever, it is only now that Mann is finally garnering the accolades and wider recognition she so justly deserves. After Til Tuesday disbanded in '88, Mann went on to write and record two critically acclaimed solo albums. 1993's Jon Brion-produced Whatever (Imago), rife with brutally honest, evocatively therapeutic, and non-Pollyana-esque songs, garnered the solo Mann high praise. '96's I'm With Stupid again won the critics hearts as another melodic gem of pop truisms, prompting Time Magazine to refer to it as one of the "catchiest pop albums of the year, brimming with poised three-minute mini-masterpiece." With praise of such high magnitude, you'd have thought Mann would have been more of a public fixture after the release of I'm With Stupid. But years of major label hijinks, including Imago's demise, and Geffen's virtual disappearance via the Polygram/Universal merger, led to the prolific Mann's creative handcuffing (at least on the distributed/finished product-level). This languish in no-man's label land, combined with Mann's honorable unwillingness to betray her convictions, compromise her integrity or be re-vamped by the spin machine of major label management led to the much-too-long four years between albums. A public resurgence came via director Paul Thomas Anderson, a friend and long-time fan, whose latest film, "Magnolia," contains no less than 8 Mann songs, 3 of which are also included on Bachelor No. 2. Anderson, inspired by tapes he'd heard Mann working on while thinking of his next movie, ended up writing Magnolia's screenplay/basing it's characters on Mann's lyrics. Mann's "Save Me," received Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for best song from a motion picture. Enter Bachelor No. 2, Aimee Mann's third solo and first self-produced album. Mann, finally fed up with major label machinations, bought the album back from Interscope (where she landed after the merger) in the Summer of 99 and created her own label, SuperEgo records, through which she will distribute Bachelor No. 2.

Feeling low, beside yourself, lacking spiritual direction? Let me share this inner Mann-tra with you: "Listen to Aimee, Aimee will guide you." Repeat as needed. Before you dismiss this as some polytheistic pseuduo-mystical hoo-hah, why don't you humor me and help yourself by picking up Mann's second, brilliantly crafted and edgy solo release, I'm With Stupid. Drop it into the nearest cd player, open those lovely ears and mind of yours and LISTEN DEEP. Now, tell me you haven't heard, uttered, or cringed under those words before; tell me you haven't dated, hated, or underrated that person before. Tell me Ms. Mann doesn't take the words right out of your mouth, and serve them back to you with a sumptuous side of reality-dosed sarcasm and a fine wine crushed from the most unapologetic sour grapes you've ever tasted?

I'm With Stupid brims beautiful with therapeutic cues and brutal lessons. Swathed in pared-down instrumentation and even more lyrically straightfoward than her freshman solo release, Whatever, Stupid cuts to the heart of the matter, and in this case, the matter is the heart and all its foibles. Every therapist, guru, shrink, swami, and high school guidance counselor should keep a copy of this album on their desk. Hell, it should REPLACE the Psychiatrist's Desk Reference altogether........

Your lover's cheating on you and you feel helpless, rejected? Don't blame yourself. Just fill an extra-potent empowering prescription of "Choice in the Matter," follow with a double dose of her justifiable anger-inducing "That's Just What You Are," and you'll feel better in a jiffy! Feeling unappreciated and misunderstood because you refuse to conform? No worry. Grab a big glass of red, take a long bath, and throw in a concentrated listen of Mann's brilliantly blasphemous and insightful "It's Not Safe." You'll never question your worthiness again. Still blaming yourself for feeling needy, guilty for wanting that not-so-good-for-you love affair to last? Stop beating yourself up! Down a much needed mega-shot of achingly honest "Long Shot," and let Aimee help you accept your vulnerability and see the liberating light. Diagnosis: Life is hard. Prognosis: With extended listening, I'm With Stupid just might help you get through it.

Dr. Mann, along with an impressive supporting staff of melodic meds, has crafted a beautiful piece of musical therapy. Think of it this way: a copy of I'm With Stupid is a great analysis companion, you can lie on your own couch while listening, and you don't have to stop after an hour! Mann Fan, heal thyself!

If you like Aimee Mann, check out:
Aimee Mann Bachelor No. 2
Aimee Mann Whatever
Aimee Mann Magnolia Soundtrack
Michael Penn MP4
Suzanne Vega Days Of Open Hand
Edie Brickell Ghost Of A Dog
Jill Sobule Pink Pearl

-- Beth Bachtold

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