I came back for more

Good news, everbody! Aimee Mann's new album, Charmer, was released today, and it's a gem. Subtle pop hooks mixed with biting wit and self-deprecating lyrics. So, typical Aimee Mann, then. And with the new album, comes a new video. This video for Labrador is very amusing and a nod to her old 'Til Tuesday days, if you remember them.

Lyrically, she compares herself to a dog who just keeps coming back for more no matter how bad you treat it. Visually, the video is sort of an update (remake?) to 'Til Tuesday's Voices Carry. And look for Jon Hamm in the vid! You can check out both videos below and you can pick up Charmer here.

Robot Cast #3

Robot Cast #3 by Robot_Hero on Mixcloud

I've been threatening to do this again, and here it is. This is my voice talking about some of my favorite musical moments in film. Click on to check out the tracklist.

Baby, I'm done

Aimee Mann's I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas appears to tell a story from a drug (heroin?) addict's point of view. She wants to kick her habit and then end her life. Bittersweet, in true Aimee Mann fashion. Funnily enough, this is not on her Christmas album, One More Drifter in the Snow; it can be found on 2005's The Forgotten Arm.

Aimee Mann - I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas

All alone at Christmas time

I once saw Aimee Mann and Michael Penn perform this, but I can't remember if it was on one of their Acoustic Vaudeville tours or one of Aimee Mann's Christmas shows that she did for a few years straight. It had to be an AV show. It was originally recorded for Paul Thomas Anderson's Hard Eight, which I believe was scored by Michael Penn and Jon Brion. Anderson later wrote the screenplay for the film, Magnolia, based, in part, upon hearing Aimee Mann's Deathly, which would also be featured on the soundtrack. In any case, it's a cool song; kinda bittersweet, by a couple of my favorite musicians.

Aimee Mann & Michael Penn - Christmastime

What did you wish for?

I can't believe it's practically mid-December already. WTF? Like, where did the time go? I need to sort out some gift shopping post haste. Seeing as how I just caught the Third Annual version of Aimee Mann's Christmas Show, I thought I'd kick off a little Christmas love with this gem. A long time ago, I was on an Aimee Mann listserv, and I traded with someone to get a couple of then-bootleg collections, Attack of the Killer B-Sides and Return of the Killer B-Sides. I'm not exactly sure where else you can find this track, the Return disc is where I got mine. It's written by Michael Penn (aka Mister Aimee Mann, to the uninitiated) and he duets with Aimee on this as well.

Aimee Mann & Michael Penn > Christmas Time

I thought my life would be different somehow

Aimee Mann really hits a nerve sometimes. Man, she just hits it right on the fucking head. I love this. She's brilliant. I love her. Awesome. Check this off her new album, Smilers.

Aimee Mann > 31 Today

It's not what you thought

I saw this a few years ago and I thought it was really cool. Then I couldn't find it for the longest time. I would do random searches from time to time but nothing came up. I looked again the other night, and it has finally shown up again. It's Aimee Mann's Wise Up set to clips from Neon Genesis Evangelion (specifically, The End of Evangelion). They totally fit together and it's very fucking cool.

What a waste of gunpowder and sky

This one, while being kind of a poignant song, always cracks me up. I have two memories associated with it. One time, my friend and I went to see Aimee Mann at Slim's. Aimee played this song and my friend burst into tears in the middle of the song. Not that I was laughing at her, it's just an amusing memory.

Memory number two: I had gone to see Aimee another time, with my then-girlf who fainted in the middle of the gig. It was her first time going to see a show, any show. The venue was packed, sold out, and hot as hell. I think at the time, smoking was still allowed indoors in California. That's how long ago it was. Anyways, we were standing there and she was sorta leaning on me. Suddenly, she started getting heavier and she started sliding down. Luckily, I was able to catch her. The security dudes were nice, they got her a bottle of water and let us sit near the door so she could get some fresh air.

If you like this, you can find it on her album entitled, Whatever. There's also a live version on the Live at St. Ann's Warehouse album. Yes, I'm a fan, but you really can't go wrong with any of her albums...so check em out.

Aimee Mann > 4th of July

You don't know how lovely you are

I'm no fan of Coldplay, but I don't hate them either. A long time ago, I probably would have, but I can't really be bothered to hate any band these days. It's just not worth the time and effort. I mean, if they make someone happy and they're able to carve out a living for themselves, then more power to them. If I don't like em, I just won't listen or buy their albums; so there's nothing to complain about and we can all happily coexist. Easy lemon squeezy.

That said, I adore Aimee Mann's cover of Coldplay's, "The Scientist". I'd have to say it's an improvement on the original. Her voice is just so clear and expressive, she really wraps her voice around the lyrics. I feel like the song fits her better, but that's just me. Also know that she's one of my faves, so I could be slightly biased. I've been listening to Ms. Mann since I heard the first Til Tuesday album way back when. Old school. Anyways, if you feel like tracking it down, this cut can be found on the 2-Disc Special Edition of her album, "Lost In Space". The first disc is the LIS album, which is really great. It actually took me a long time to "get" LIS, but it was completely worth it. The second disc of the special edition is a solid collection of bsides and live tracks. It's packaged like a little book, with artwork and notes; a really nice touch to make it worth the extra few dollars. So yeah, check it out...

Self Portrait: DoB

OMFG!!1!!!1~~ Robot Hero in rare self portrait shocker!

Me, messing around with camera at 1am on my birthday. Fucking hell, I feel old. I'm treating myself to an Aimee Mann gig tonight, at Bimbo's 365 in North Beach. She's doing a "Christmas Show", probably in conjunction with the Christmas album she just released, which is titled ""One More Drifter In The Snow". You can buy the album over on her website and probably your local brick and mortar CD shop as well. It's got all the covers you might expect, and it also features an original song, "Calling On Mary". Also, her version of "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" is amusing.

I'm taking my dad along with me to the show. I figure that over the course of my lifetime, he's put up with enough of my shit that he deserves at least night out on me. I also figure that of all the music I listen to, he'd be more receptive to 1) Aimee Mann (even tho he probably wouldn't "get" her) and 2) a Christmas themed show. I don't think he'd be very pleased if I dragged his ass to go see Asobi Seksu or Neko Case. Then again, if I put enough alcohol in him, I could probably get him to sing along to all my favorite Godspeed You! Black Emperor tunes. Anyways, check out Aimee's Christmas track, along with my two favorite birthday songs. Cheers.

Listen:
Aimee Mann > Calling On Mary
The Pixies Three > Birthday Party
Cibo Matto > Birthday Cake