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In 2005, Mann released ''[[The Forgotten Arm]]'', a concept album set in the 1970s about two lovers who meet at the [[Virginia State Fair]] and go on the run. The [[Joe Henry]]-produced album, which was recorded mostly live with few overdubs, contained illustrations which reflected Mann's interest in [[boxing]], having trained with the boxing trainer [[Freddie Roach (boxing)|Freddie Roach]]<ref>[http://www.howtobeatupanything.com/home/2009/01/how-to-beat-up-singer-aimee-mann-with-a-rebuttal-from-aimee.html How To Beat Up Singer Aimee Mann (with a rebuttal from Aimee)]. How To Beat Up Anything (2009-01-13). Retrieved on 2010-12-25.</ref>; the album's title is derived from a boxing move in which one arm is used to hit the opponent, causing him to "forget" about the other, which is then used to deliver a harsher blow. The following year, Mann received a Grammy for "Best Recording Package" for the album's artwork (shared with Gail Marowitz).
In 2005, Mann released ''[[The Forgotten Arm]]'', a concept album set in the 1970s about two lovers who meet at the [[Virginia State Fair]] and go on the run. The [[Joe Henry]]-produced album, which was recorded mostly live with few overdubs, contained illustrations which reflected Mann's interest in [[boxing]], having trained with the boxing trainer [[Freddie Roach (boxing)|Freddie Roach]]<ref>[http://www.howtobeatupanything.com/home/2009/01/how-to-beat-up-singer-aimee-mann-with-a-rebuttal-from-aimee.html How To Beat Up Singer Aimee Mann (with a rebuttal from Aimee)]. How To Beat Up Anything (2009-01-13). Retrieved on 2010-12-25.</ref>; the album's title is derived from a boxing move in which one arm is used to hit the opponent, causing him to "forget" about the other, which is then used to deliver a harsher blow. The following year, Mann received a Grammy for "Best Recording Package" for the album's artwork (shared with Gail Marowitz).


In 2006, Mann released ''[[One More Drifter in the Snow]]'', a [[Christmas music|Christmas album]] featuring covers of standards like "[[Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas]]" and new songs like "Calling On Mary", written by Mann and bassist [[Paul Bryan (musician)|Paul Bryan]]. The album's [[iTunes]] version replaced "Christmastime" (a duet with husband Michael Penn) with a cover of [[Joni Mitchell]]'s "[[River (Joni Mitchell song)|River]]", and "Clean Up for Christmas" from ''The Forgotten Arm''; an updated version of the CD was released two years later incorporating the Joni Mitchell cover.
In 2006, Mann released ''[[One More Drifter in the Snow]]'', a [[Christmas music|Christmas album]] featuring covers of standards like "[[Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas]]" and new songs like "Calling On Mary", written by Mann and bassist [[Paul Bryan (musician)|Paul Bryan]]. The album's [[iTunes]] version replaced "Christmastime" (a duet with husband Michael Penn) with a cover of [[Joni Mitchell]]'s "[[River (Joni Mitchell song)|River]]", and "Clean Up for Christmas" from ''The Forgotten Arm''; an updated version of the CD was released two years later with the Joni Mitchell cover.


In 2008, Mann released ''[[@&*! Smilers|@#%&*! Smilers]]'', which featured Grammy-nominated artwork by [[Gary Taxali]] (art directed/designed by Gail Marowitz), debuted on the ''[[Billboard 200]]'' at #32, and on the Top Independent Albums chart at #2.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=32699&model.vnuAlbumId=1139354 Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Aimee Mann], Billboard.com</ref> ''@#%&*! Smilers'' was met with mostly praise, with ''Billboard'' stating that it "pops with color, something that gives it an immediacy that's rare for an artist known for songs that subtly worm their way into the subconscious... ''Smilers'' grabs a listener, never making him or her work at learning the record, as there are both big pop hooks and a rich sonic sheen."<ref name="amg_smilers">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1383932|pure_url=yes}}|title=@#%&*! Smilers|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|work=Allmusic|accessdate=13 April 2010}}</ref> the music video for a song, "31 Today", directed by [[Bobcat Goldthwait]], featured comedienne [[Morgan Murphy (comedian)|Morgan Murphy]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVqBJ8DdsGA "31 Today"]. YouTube. Retrieved on 2010-12-25.</ref>
In 2008, Mann released ''[[@&*! Smilers|@#%&*! Smilers]]'', which featured Grammy-nominated artwork by [[Gary Taxali]] (art directed/designed by Gail Marowitz), debuted on the ''[[Billboard 200]]'' at #32, and on the Top Independent Albums chart at #2.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=32699&model.vnuAlbumId=1139354 Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Aimee Mann], Billboard.com</ref> ''@#%&*! Smilers'' was met with mostly praise, with ''Billboard'' stating that it "pops with color, something that gives it an immediacy that's rare for an artist known for songs that subtly worm their way into the subconscious... ''Smilers'' grabs a listener, never making him or her work at learning the record, as there are both big pop hooks and a rich sonic sheen."<ref name="amg_smilers">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1383932|pure_url=yes}}|title=@#%&*! Smilers|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|work=Allmusic|accessdate=13 April 2010}}</ref> the music video for a song, "31 Today", directed by [[Bobcat Goldthwait]], featured comedienne [[Morgan Murphy (comedian)|Morgan Murphy]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVqBJ8DdsGA "31 Today"]. YouTube. Retrieved on 2010-12-25.</ref>

Revision as of 21:26, 19 October 2012

Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann in concert on October 15, 2005.
Aimee Mann in concert on October 15, 2005.
Background information
Born (1960-09-08) September 8, 1960 (age 64)
OriginRichmond, Virginia, United States
GenresRock, folk
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass guitar, hi-hat, keyboards
Years active1982–present
LabelsSuperEgo
Websitewww.aimeemann.com

Aimee Mann (born September 8, 1960)[1] is an American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist and bassist.[2]

1980s

After growing up in Bon Air, Virginia and graduating from Open High School in Richmond[3], Mann dropped out from Berklee College of Music in Boston to join the punk band, the Young Snakes[4], who released the EP, Bark Along with the Young Snakes, in 1982. The following year, she co-founded, with Berklee classmate and boyfriend Michael Hausman (who went on to manage her solo career), the new wave band, 'Til Tuesday.

In 1985, the band released Voices Carry, the debut album with a title track, inspired by Mann's breakup with Hausman,[2] which won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist.

In 1986, the band released Welcome Home, their sophomore album.

In 1988, the band released Everything's Different Now, their third and final album. Shortly after its release, Mann said that she was much more pleased with it than the debut, primarily because she felt it made more of a personal statement about her life.[5] On their final tour, musician Jon Brion joined the band, which broke up in 1990 when Mann left to start her solo career.[2]

1990s

In 1993, Mann released Whatever, her debut solo album, which sold modestly but met with critical praise.

In 1995, Mann released I'm with Stupid, her sophomore album, through Geffen Records[6] which, like her debut, garnered positive reviews but modest commercial success.

In 1997, Mann married songwriter Michael Penn (brother of actors Sean Penn and Chris Penn), whom she met in the 1980s and courted while she was recording her previous album.

In 1999, Mann recorded original material for the soundtrack to the Paul Thomas Anderson film, Magnolia, which earned both a Academy Award and Grammy for the song, "Save Me", one of eight tracks she recorded for the project. Also that year, she negotiated a contract release from David Geffen, and founded her own label, SuperEgo Records.

2000s

In 2000, Mann released Bachelor No. 2, released on SuperEgo, which included some songs from Magnolia and new material. Also that year, she and her husband formed a concept called Acoustic Vaudeville, a mixture of music and stand-up comedy; among the comedians joining them for shows were Janeane Garofalo, Patton Oswalt, and David Cross.[7]

In 2002, Mann released Lost in Space, an album which featured art by Seth and, the following year, released Lost in Space Special Edition, which featured a second disc containing six live recordings (including a version of Coldplay's "The Scientist"), as well as two B-sides and two previously unreleased songs.

In 2004, Mann released Live at St. Ann's Warehouse, a live album and DVD recorded at a series of shows in Brooklyn.

In 2005, Mann released The Forgotten Arm, a concept album set in the 1970s about two lovers who meet at the Virginia State Fair and go on the run. The Joe Henry-produced album, which was recorded mostly live with few overdubs, contained illustrations which reflected Mann's interest in boxing, having trained with the boxing trainer Freddie Roach[8]; the album's title is derived from a boxing move in which one arm is used to hit the opponent, causing him to "forget" about the other, which is then used to deliver a harsher blow. The following year, Mann received a Grammy for "Best Recording Package" for the album's artwork (shared with Gail Marowitz).

In 2006, Mann released One More Drifter in the Snow, a Christmas album featuring covers of standards like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and new songs like "Calling On Mary", written by Mann and bassist Paul Bryan. The album's iTunes version replaced "Christmastime" (a duet with husband Michael Penn) with a cover of Joni Mitchell's "River", and "Clean Up for Christmas" from The Forgotten Arm; an updated version of the CD was released two years later with the Joni Mitchell cover.

In 2008, Mann released @#%&*! Smilers, which featured Grammy-nominated artwork by Gary Taxali (art directed/designed by Gail Marowitz), debuted on the Billboard 200 at #32, and on the Top Independent Albums chart at #2.[9] @#%&*! Smilers was met with mostly praise, with Billboard stating that it "pops with color, something that gives it an immediacy that's rare for an artist known for songs that subtly worm their way into the subconscious... Smilers grabs a listener, never making him or her work at learning the record, as there are both big pop hooks and a rich sonic sheen."[10] the music video for a song, "31 Today", directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, featured comedienne Morgan Murphy.[11]

In 2009, Mann announced that she was working on a musical based on her album, The Forgotten Arm[12], but later stated that it was put on hold due to similarities to The Fighter.

In 2011, Mann joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to promote independent musicians.[13][14][15] She was also an inaugural member in 2002.[16]

In 2012, Mann released Charmer, an album which featured a duet with James Mercer of the The Shins.

Discography

Main article: Aimee Mann discography

Other appearances

In 1986, Mann provided backing vocals to Inside, the debut album of Matthew Sweet.[17]

In 1987, Mann provided backing vocals to the hit song, "Time Stand Still", on the Rush album, Hold Your Fire, and also appeared in the song's music video.[2]

In 1997, Mann recorded "Nobody Does It Better" on the album, Shaken and Stirred: The David Arnold James Bond Project.

In 1998, Mann appeared in the film, The Big Lebowski, as a German nihilist who sacrificed her green nail polished little right toe.

In 2002, Mann and her band appeared as themselves in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, performing her songs "This Is How It Goes" and "Pavlov's Bell" at The Bronze. She has one line in the episode: "Man, I hate playing vampire towns"; the latter song also appears on the Buffy soundtrack album, Radio Sunnydale. Also that year, she and her band appeared on The West Wing, where they performed a cover of James Taylor's "Shed a Little Light" at a Rock the Vote concert.

In 2005, Mann joined Artists Against Piracy, a group formed to act against the illegal downloading and file sharing of copyrighted music from the Internet. Mann, Penn and Hausman took their experience with SuperEgo to found the independent music collective United Musicians, which is based on the principle that every artist should be able to retain copyright ownership of the work he or she has created, in contrast to normal music industry contracts.

In 2006, Mann appeared as on an episode of the television series, Love Monkey, which starred Tom Cavanagh.

In 2007, Mann contributed two original songs, "The Great Beyond" and "At the Edge of the World", for the soundtrack to Arctic Tale.

In 2008, Mann appeared in the Comedy Central series, Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, in a comedic interview conducted by comedian Paul F. Tompkins.

In 2011, Mann appeared (as a cleaning woman version of herself) on the Independent Film Channel series, Portlandia.

In 2012, Mann contributed vocals on the song "Two Horses" in the film, Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie. That same year, she contributed lyrics and vocals on the song "No More Amsterdam" for the Steve Vai album, The Story Of Light. In addition, her song, "Wise Up", is currently being used for the organ donor campaign in Ontario, Canada, and can be seen on the video within their website.[18]

In 2012, she contributed vocals to the song "Bigger Than Love" off of Former Lives, the first solo album by Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard. [19]

References

  1. ^ Aimee Mann, IMDb.com
  2. ^ a b c d Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 603. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  3. ^ "Freewheelin' 78 A Publication of the Open High School", p. 132
  4. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Young-Snakes-Featuring-Aimee-Mann/dp/B000LRPK0C
  5. ^ Baldwin, Dawn (January 1987)"Aimee Mann Not Waiting 'Til Tuesday," Nine-O-One Network Magazine, pp. 7-9
  6. ^ "Aimee Mann – Current Activities". United Musicians. Archived from the original on 2002-12-07. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  7. ^ http://www.aboutlastnight.org.uk/aimee_mann_&_michael_penn.htm
  8. ^ How To Beat Up Singer Aimee Mann (with a rebuttal from Aimee). How To Beat Up Anything (2009-01-13). Retrieved on 2010-12-25.
  9. ^ Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Aimee Mann, Billboard.com
  10. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "@#%&*! Smilers". Allmusic. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
  11. ^ "31 Today". YouTube. Retrieved on 2010-12-25.
  12. ^ Aimee Mann – The LA Snark Interview, 22 September 2009
  13. ^ "Independent Music Awards". Independent Music Awards. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ [1][dead link]
  15. ^ She & Him, The Black Keys, Mark Hoppus, Aimee Mann And Bettye LaVette Join Judging Panel For The 9th Annual Independent Music Awards @ Top40-Charts.com - Songs from 49 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 30 Countries. Top40-charts.com. Retrieved on 2010-12-25.
  16. ^ "Independent Music Awards – Past Judges". Independentmusicawards.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/matthew-sweet/id89836957
  18. ^ https://beadonor.ca/
  19. ^ http://diffuser.fm/ben-gibbard-aimee-mann-bigger-than-love/
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