New Aimee Mann album "Mental Illness" (03/31/2017)

Inside info"?
It would appear to be so.

 

Probably "Bachelor no. 2" is the most representative album of her overall career, although her first two albums are more lively.

 

I would agree with that album (but I'd probably start with the second and third 'Til Tuesday albums).

 

I too have never seen anything about her being divorced from Michael Penn. Where does this info come from? I think she's posted Instagram pictures with him in them in the not too distant past (I'm not saying that's proof they're not divorced, but it would seem to make it less likely).

Do yourself a favor and listen to the final 'Til Tuesday album "Everything's Different Now" as soon as possible. It is a pop masterpiece in my opinion.

As far as her solo stuff, I agree with the above comment that "Bachelor #2" is probably a good place to start for the best representation of her sound. But my personal favorite is her first one, "Whatever."

 

Yeah, I've been looking online, too, and don't see anything. In all stupid honesty, I believe I read about it on this forum, so you know, I could be completely wrong.

Beyond that, yes, I had heard from someone in the business that Aimee Mann and Michael Penn had "split up," and that she and Ted Leo were "a thing," so I assumed that meant they'd divorced. There is an article that says they were going through a rough time, so I guess maybe they dealt with it and carried on without actually divorcing?

 

Penn/Mann
Very nice version of "Two Of Us".

 

The album Whatever is also my favourite. Its melodies really get to me.
It's actually quite different to her Til Tuesday albums, where there is much more going on in a poppy way.
Don't get me wrong, The Til Tuesday albums are great - and they sound fantastic too - but they probably aren't the place to start to prepare for her forthcoming album if you are unfamiliar with her work and don't know where to start.

 

Start to finish Lost In Space.

 

I personally encountered the two of them together within the last two months. For what it's worth. I'd be skeptical of suppositions in this forum as the last word on any personal matters.

 

'Til Tuesday - Welcome Home (terrific pop album, very overlooked)
Aimee Mann - Bachelor No. 2 (her best album, in my opinion)

 

Yeah, my mistake in perpetuating that, if it's untrue, especially since I'm pretty accustomed to how often misinformation is spread on forums like this.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Maybe tweet that Aimee & Michael are no longer together and see if she likes it.

 

New LA Times interview discussing "Mental Illness":

Aimee Mann embraces the darkness on her new album, 'Mental Illness'

Also worth noting, in light of the discussion here, is this line from the article:

"Her husband, musician Michael Penn, is loading boxes in an adjoining room, and as the sound of tape being ripped from its roll echoes, Mann bemoans the hassle of home renovation."

 

Fifty six ?
The lady looks twenty years younger.

 

I sooo love Welcome Home - pure magical music!!

 

I agree -- I almost didn't give it a chance because I hated "Voices Carry" so much, but I think I caught the video for "What About Love" from it and fell in love with Aimee/them.

 

Just playing Welcome Home for the first time in quite a while, and this is kind of a lost classic pop album, every song is an ear worm, the hooks, the glossy production, the performances, everything is spot on perfect.

 

EDN is my favorite, but I find Welcome Home fantastic and nearly as good. Two of the greatest albums of the '80s, in my opinion.

 

Very pleased that the info I repeated was incorrect. They're both awesome musicians and any breakup is awful, so yeah, glad to know I was wrong.

(And that will teach me to pay attention to garbage like that, when it's posted without any actual source.)

 

Bit late now.

 

Yes, the whole world came crashing down.

 

I'll have to listen to The Forgotten Arm again - it didn't grab me initially.

I appreciate your list, but personally I'd rate Whatever much higher, probably third behind Bachelor No. 2 and Lost in Space.

RE Lost in Space, I have the MFSL SACD for the sonics (of course), and the Deluxe Edition - which can be had pretty cheaply used - for the 2nd CD, which I think is excellent - great live tracks, covers, b-sides, and so on.

Finally, for someone looking to get in to her work, I'd recommend starting with Whatever because it:

1. Represents a nice hybrid between the more pop-oriented 'Til Tuesday material and her later more melancholy material
2. Has a nice, dynamic mastering, unlike a lot of her later work
3. Can be had dirt-cheap on the used market
4. Is not available in a MFSL mastering - and why lay out the big $$$ for one of those when you're just trying to dip a toe in the water initially?

 

I will take a try. I disliked her last couple of albums. I hated Lost in Space and The Forgotten Arm.

 

I'd also recommend "Whatever". It's the most diverse in sound and style. The acoustic b-sides are also worth tracking down. "Stupid Thing" is especially brilliant in an acoustic setting.