verbalgirl's Full Review: Bachelor No. 2 by Aimee Mann
A friend gave me this CD for Christmas and I only just got round to listening to it today. What was I waiting for?! This is amazing! I loved the MAGNOLIA soundtrack, but I wasn't quite sure if I would like this album as much... needless to say, I shouldn't have worried.
I love Aimee Mann's style because she switches back and forth from Sheryl Crow type folk rock to moody coffeehouse ballads to this quirky sound I can't really describe except that she juxtaposes a distinct one-two-three waltz rhythm with her characteristically introspective lyrics. A brief rundown of the tracks on "Bachelor No. 2":
How Am I Different -- I wouldn't be surprised if Sheryl Crow covered this song... it would have fit perfectly on "The Globe Sessions".
Nothing is Good Enough -- has a "carnival music" type feel to it and a strong waltz rhythm, the bounciness of which contrasts beautifully with the lyrics.
Red Vines -- dark, moody, my least favorite on the album.
The Fall of the World's Own Optimist -- Aimee Mann's music often sounds familiar, but this song TORMENTS me... I know I have either heard it somewhere before or have heard a similar song played on the radio. It's both radio-friendly and cinematic, so I could easily have heard it in a movie.
Satellite -- a slow waltz with soaring strings. I love the orchestration of this one... Jon Brion is a genius at using instruments that aren't normally associated with rock/pop music [violin, piano, woodwinds], as fans of Fiona Apple's "When the Pawn..." already know.
Deathly -- P.T. Anderson's inspiration for the character Claudia in MAGNOLIA, with the famous opening lines he lifted for dialogue: "Now that I've met you, would you object to never seeing each other again?"
Ghost World -- about graduating and not being sure what to do. Hits WAY too close to home for me as someone who will be completing her degree this May, but it is a pretty song.
Calling It Quits -- percussion reminiscent of the Sneaker Pimps' "Six Underground", a lovely melody, and strong lyrics. This song has a very eighties feel to it for some reason.
Driving Sideways -- great to sing along with... one of my favorites from MAGNOLIA.
Just Like Anyone -- shares a title with a Soul Asylum song I hate PASSIONATELY, so I was reassured to discover that this is not that song [hey, I run into covers in the most unexpected places] but a very simple ballad that uses violin and accordion sparingly and effectively.
Susan -- another song I would expect to hear Sheryl Crow play, or perhaps Jill Sobule or Meredith Brooks. A different sound, unexpected on this very melodic album.
It Takes All Kinds -- Beatles-esque is the only way to describe this one.
You Do -- a beautiful, subdued, melodic finale.
Aimee Mann and her producer, the brilliant Jon Brion [who created the lovely neoclassical score for MAGNOLIA and produced Fiona Apple's "When the Pawn", among other accomplishments] have created an absolute masterpiece in "Bachelor No. 2". Run, do not walk, to the nearest purveyor of music and purchase this CD. It is destined to become a classic.
Fresh on the heels of her Golden Globe and Acedemy Award nominations for her work on the soundtrack for Magnolia, Aimee Mann releases No. 2.More at Buy.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.