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Elly Roberts reviews

Aimee Mann: #@%&*! Smilers

Distributed by
Superego Records

Released: June 2008

Rating: 6/10

Vote and comment on this album:

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 soundtrack for Magnolia. ‘Smilers’ keeps the status quo – solid, reliable, quality music.

Not one for throwing caution to the wind, Mann has yet another one that’ll appeal to the fans, but it’s doubtful if it’ll catch the casual listener’s ears. Her credibility ensures she’s a musos magnet, with some 26 musicians contributing.

As ever, her singing is assured, forceful, smokey here and there, but not outstanding by any means. First song Freeway is about a bum who’s happy enough on speed, but hasn’t got his priorities right – no surprises there. It builds to a huge chorus and eventually becomes quite catchy, making it one of her popier efforts.

In sharp contrast she goes all melancholic for piano lead ballad Stranger Into Starman and further-in It’s Over and Medicine Wheel, whereas later she delves into Joni Mitchell styled balladeering backed by a sumptuous string arrangement on country-tinged Phoenix and stripped back Little Tornado.

Jaunty Borrowing Time leans back to her pop thing: the song’s hook is the subtle use of a Moog synthesiser. After the midway mark, her horn section unleashes masses of brass which stay to the end. By far the best track is the cool shuffle and beats of bouncy Great Beyond.

Lyrically, much is directed at the disillusionment with California’s empty and shallow lifestyle, a recurring theme over the years.

File under: Grower.

Weblink: aimeemann.com Website – 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

Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.

As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier.

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