@#%&*! Smilers

Aimee Mann

Aimee Mann can be rightfully considered the most conservative performer of the present days. Although practically all the albums of the author, bass guitarist and singer have received most positive critics' reviews the commercial success kept passing them by. In 1999 Aimee Mann became famous as one of the authors of soundtrack to film Magnolia and then record Bachelor No. 2 was released on which the compositions from the film were included. Her work Lost in Space attracted the attention of press in 2003 being remarkable for its unearthly sounding and three years later a conceptual album The Forgotten Arm dedicated to '70s was released. Today this unique artist releases her seventh creation quite unusually entitled @#%&*! Smilers. Her recognizable vocals sing once again about the past and the present, turns to introspection and also shares with the listeners some of the singer's viewpoints on various life aspects.

@#%&*! Smilers can be by no means called monotonous

The thirteen tracks of @#%&*! Smilers are arranged into the general picture of tranquil music full of reflections and at the same time quite melodious. At the same time the album can be by no means called monotonous. It opens with a mid-tempo composition Freeway followed by a slow Stranger Into Starman a minute and a half long. A guitar track Looking For Nothing pleases with a memorable tune, a great rhythm and philosophic lyrics while a magnificent composition Phoenix is refined with a wonderfully expressive piano. On a livelier track Borrowing Time there still can be heard a shade of hopelessness whereas song 31 Today pleases with a nice tune and an optimistic text. One of the album's highlights is composition The Great Beyond with an amazingly beautiful instrumental background combining perfectly well with Mann's soft and powerful vocals. A piano ballad Medicine Wheel is probably Aimee's most melancholic piece lately while Columbus Avenue is a peaceful reflective composition. Little Tornado sounds in the same register if not a bit sadder and the closer is a jazzy song Ballantines refined with manly vocals provided by Sean Hayes, and contagious tubes.

A singer faithful to her ideals

Obviously an outstanding singer Aimee Mann has never strived for making her albums necessarily bestsellers. On the contrary she is rather apart from the pop industry and considers herself a part of a different circle. Independence in judgment and inclination to philosophic reflection have become the basic qualities of her creative work. Besides the absolute majority of Aimee Mann's songs have a wonderful peculiarity that makes one like them more and more with each next listening. Wonderful arrangements on @#%&*! Smilers produced by bassist Paul Bryan who plays with Aimee and has already worked with her on the Christmas album in 2006 and beautiful melodies will be appreciated by everyone fond of clear and soulful music and it is quite probable that soon we can expect new presents from this honest singer faithful to her ideals.