Aimee Mann
If a first-time listener has only the unopened CD called One More Drifter in the Snow it might be difficult to determine just where Aimee Mann fits into the modern music scene. Calling On Mary" from that CD can eliminate some of the doubt, though even a close listen to the lyrics doesn’t answer all the questions.
First of all, Mann is not billed as a Christian or religious artist. Rather, she is rock, acoustic and pop, according to her Web site.Then, it’s on to "She Really Wants You" from The Forgotten Arm (SuperEgo Records 2006). This tune might make the uninitiated go back to "Calling On Mary" to determine if that song is more philosophical than faith-based. (It is.)"She Really Wants You" has some dynamite guitar work as part of its charm and might prove to be a great easy-listening tune, over time. Mann plays guitar as well as using her nice voice for such story-tunes as "Video" from The Forgotten Arm (SuperEgo Records 2006). Apparently she has also started using the piano as a song-writing instrument.That in itself may make for some interesting work from this veteran. She is a veteran in the music business, with five solo recordings on her resume.
Aimee Mann will be one of the artists taking to the stage at Bonnaroo in June, near Manchester, Tennessee. This arts and music gathering attracts hundreds of fans, who camp out, party and listen to good music from a wide variety of genres. Enjoy her there.
Tags: independent music, music, indie music, indie, Aimee Mann
I actually like Aimee Mann’s singing voice; it’s rather on the lowish alto range, and it has a smoky quality that’s perfect for the song Calling On Mary. I also like She Really Wants You….it’s really a song that fits my musical tastes.
I’ve always been a fan of Aimee Mann. Unfortunately, I tucked her album away a couple years ago. Looking at her very nice site and listening to her music again has me looking for the album again. I’ve always been a fan of female vocals. On my music playlist, a majority of songs are voiced by females. I believe that gals are capable of offering a certain degree of emotion that very few guys can reach. It’s people like Aimee Mann that makes me look up the lyrics to all of her songs and compare those meaningful lyrics to my own life. A fantastic singer, she is.
Lyrically, I can dig Mann’s music, but other than that, she is just a bit too mellow, a bit too soft spoken, and doesn’t really have that dramatic effect to go along with it to pull if off like other successful female vocalists do. For example, Jewel’s “Foolish Games” is very soft spoken and mellow, but it’s that certain key she hits at the same time and the dramatic tone that makes you feel what she is singing. I just don’t hear that with Mann.
Perhaps this is a case of different strokes for different folks; maybe there is a somewhat low-key approach in Aimee Mann’s style that won’t appeal to all listeners, and that’s to be expected. Your observation is accurate and I like the comparison you make here to Jewel, who’s also one of my favorite singers.