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by: Aimee Mann  
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Binding: Audio CDEAN: 0698519002624 Label: Superego Records Manufacturer: Superego Records Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Superego Records Release Date: June 03, 2008 Studio: Superego Records Sales Rank: 839 Disc 1:
Editorial Review: Album Description: Limited edition book packaging of her 2008 album, Aimee's seventh solo release to date. The album is a return to form after the artistic detours of 2005's concept album The Forgotten Arm and 2006's Christmas CD One More Drifter in the Snow. Featuring thirteen new original songs, producer Paul Bryan describes the record as "deceptively powerful...very rich and grand-sounding." The songs range from the stripped-down-to-basics of "Columbus Avenue," to the almost Cars-esque synth-pop of "Freeway," alongside the classic Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell-era "Phoenix," and the hushed creepiness of "Little Tornado." The final song "Ballantines" is a duet with Sean Hayes complete with barroom piano and trombone section. All songs were penned by Mann with the exception of "True Believer" which was co-written with fellow singer-songwriter Grant Lee Phillips. Amazon.co.uk : Despite that unwieldy, rather craven title, @#%&! Smilers has already been acclaimed by some critics as the best record in Aimee Mann’s long career. Few fans will be disappointed. The opening "Freeway" may be built around a fairly slight play on words ("you got a lot of money but you can’t afford the freeway" goes the chorus) but the nagging melody and expansive synth-laden arrangement, reminiscent of her East Coast counterparts and fellow suburban critics Fountains of Wayne, is nigh on irresistible. "Stranger Into Starman" is a mere snippet, and all the better for its brevity, while "Looking For Nothing" is a perfect example of the southern Californian blankness Mann has captured for years now. The lush, orchestrated country-rock of "Phoenix" rhymes the title with "Kleenex" and truly captures the mood of someone leaving for good. Sean Hayes sounds uncannily like a boozy Antony Hegarty on the deceptively jolly closer "Ballantines," named for a whisky, while author Dave Eggers picks up a credit for his rather good "whistling" on the gloomy, undeniably pretty "Little Tornado." The painfully detailed "Thirty One Today," a distant memory for Mann, is another successful attempt to voice dissatisfaction. Only the chirpy horns on the admonishing "Borrowing Time" actually lighten the mood. Smilers is an excellent record, cleverly thought out throughout. But the smiles here are rueful at best -- Steve Jelbert Average Rating:
 Rating:  - @#%&*! get yourself a copy Aimee Mann long time singer-songwriter with award winning music quality is back with another collection that is as well written, sung, and enjoyable as ever. Producing consistently good albums that are largely similar to one another is a double edged sword. Many Mann fans have said 'sounds about the same as the last one,' as if that is a problem. If she has produced an album with a very different feel (lets say she went pop in the vein of her cover of "Voices Carry," there would be just as many complains ... Read More Rating:  - can a 55 year old man love new pop music?I cautiously took Aimee Mann's cd Bachelor No. 2 from my local library because I want to acquaint myself with current music. Usually I listen to bits and pieces and return the cd's with a shudder. Bachelor No. 2 was so infectious that I bought it; then I bought Smilers and Aimee mann's Christmas album. Thinking that I was being a little crazy, I went on Amazon and listened to samples of all her recordings. There are no bad songs. I haven't purchased music in twenty years. And making matters worse I am ( or ... Read More Rating:  - Snore.............I'm With Stupid is one of my all-time top 25. Whatever is nearly as good as that one. Smilers almost put me to sleep. Medicine Wheel is pretty good. Balantine's? Heard it before. The rest... you get the picture. Rating: - Her Best Work Since "Whatever"I've read quite a few reviews stating that Aimee is retreading old territory and that she should experiment more. The last time one of my favorite bands started "experimenting" we ended up with a pretentious piece of crap called "Kid A". As long as Aimee keeps putting out well written songs with killer performances, I'm in. In the case of Smilers I am not really hearing it as same old same old. It sounds like she has revisited her entire history - from the tender acoustic balladry of Whatever ... Read More Rating: - Consistently good...one of the best of 2008I own most of Aimee Mann's albums, including her previous one before this, The Forgotten Arm. Some reviews felt that as a concept album, it was a bit of a departure for Mann but I find that she consistently makes good music, especially with sweet lyrics and vocals. I was fortunate enough to catch one of her concerts as part of the tour for this album and she did a great job on the songs. The show helped reinforce just how well these songs fit into the Aimee Mann canon. The album opens with the single, ... Read More Browse for similar items by category:
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