Aimee Mann
Queens of the Summer Hotel - Super Ego Records 2021
Tracks: 1. You Fall / 2. Robert Lowell and Sylvia / 3. Give Me Fifteen / 4. At the Frick Museum / 5. Home by Now / 6. Checks / 7. Little Chameleon / 8. You Don't Have the Room / 9. Suicide is Murder / 10. You Could Have Been a Roosevelt / 11. Burn It Out / 12. In Mexico / 13. Check (reprise) / 14. You're Lost / 15. I See You
Comments:
It should be no secret that I mostly prefer the more pop-rocking side of Aimee Mann, which she shows on albums like "Charmer" and "Smilers". There is, honestly, not much of that on this new album, on which I have noticed guitar on only a single track; “Burn it Out”. It is thus a new very subdued Aimee Mann, although the predecessor "Mental Illness" can hardly be called a rock album either.
But even though Mann here hits something completely different, the whole thing is actually very beautiful, gifted and pertinent.
The instrumentation is built around the piano, if you sense that the songs must have been created on the piano. There are really tasteful strings and woodwinds arrangements added to most of the tracks, masterfully conducted by producer Paul Bryan, who also adds a little vocals here and there. There is bass and discreet drummming on most songs.
Vocally, Aimee Mann is top notch and the beautiful harmonies are a pleasure throughout. The lyrics are also both wellwritten and thoughtful based on a serious theme such as mental illness and a stay in a psychiatric hospital.
The numbers are mostly written in a 1960s inspired style and can at times be a bit reminiscent of artists like Randy Newman and Scott Walker. Also, the cover is very 1960s-like, which makes good sense since the book the songs are inspired by (Girl, Interrupted) was written in the late 1960s. The cover reminds me in style a bit of Dusty Springfield's cover for her album "Where am I Going".
Some of the numbers are quite short and despite the 15 cuts, the playing time is only just over 40 minutes.
The album opens with "You Fall", which in style is quite typical of the album as a whole. A quiet piano-based number with strings, bass and discreet drums, slightly jazzed in a 1960s style.
"Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath" continues in the same style, but in a waltz beat.
"Give me Fifteen" is one of the more catchy songs, and may well be a bit reminiscent of "One" from "Magnolia"
"At the Frick Museum" is nice and melodic with a nice bubbling rhythm.
"Here by Now" is my absolute favorite. A gorgeous melody, with only piano and a little bit of strings; also one of the shortest numbers – unfortunately.
"Checks" is a very short number that might well work as background music in a scene change.
"Little Chameleon" is another short but beautiful song like "Here by Now"; a little more fully instrumented.
"You Don't Have a Room" is a dark number in the characteristic jazzy style.
"Suicide is Murder" was, despite the very serious content, chosen as the first single; a fine composition.
"You Could Have Been a Roosevelt" is lighter and almost in music-hall style.
"Burn it Out" is another favorite; the only track where the guitar plays a role - in itself refreshing. A fine melodic number with a catchy rhythm.
"In Mexico" is one of the longer tracks; feels perhaps a little longer than it actually is.
"Checks Reprise" is an instrumental, with a similar melody theme as the first "Checks" track.
“You´re Lost” a quiet slow ballad; another typical track for the album.
The same can be said on the rolling end number "I See You".
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