A soundtrack with a difference (Magnolia - Aimee Mann)

Member Name: cswann

Product:	Magnolia - Aimee Mann
Date:	24/08/00 (35 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliant songs from Aimee

Disadvantages: Two songs by Supertramp

This is not really a soundtrack in the usual sense. For instance, there are songs on here that do not appear in the film. But more importantly, Aimee Mann's songs were written before the film "Magnolia" was even made. Paul Thomas Anderson, its director, even used some of the lyrics as dialogue for the characters. "Wise up" is the song which, if you've seen the film, demonstrates this perfectly. But never mind if you haven't seen the film, the CD is still a brilliant collection of songs in its own right.

"Driving sideways" is perhaps the best of these, the one you're most likely to be singing half an hour later. Listen out for Michael Penn's (Mann's husband) excellent electric guitar on this track - very like Badfinger / George Harrison.
Opening track, Harry Nilsson's "One", sets the tone nicely, and "Save me" is another highlight - nice accordian brings to mind kd lang's "Constant craving".
Mann's voice has a pure quality, like Karen Carpenter at times, Suzanne Vega at others, and the album has a calm beauty to it.
Hearing the songs on the film made me buy the CD, now I want to investigate her earlier solo CDs, and her work with 1980s band Til Tuesday.

You also get the bonus of two Supertramp songs! "Goodbye stranger and "Logical song"- listening to them now, these songs don't sound as pretentious as I remember, in fact they're not bad at all, and you can always skip them if you like.

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