hi jason! i wanted to chime in with your "defense" of aimee's
"bachelor #2" over "magnolia." frankly, "bachelor" is the only
release this year OR last that i consider to be "aimee's" own.
i know paul thomas anderson loves her, respects her, and
worked hard to integrate her vision with his movie (which
i loved). still, that album was for a MOVIE, with other songs,
and chosen and ordered according to the movie's vision.
frankly, it irks me every time to hear those crappy supertramp
songs after the delicate disappointment of "deathly" and
such.
ALSO, i'd like to point out, in case some on the JMDL aren't
aware -- there is an album out of aimee's "greatest hits"
called "the ultimate collection." this is a collection
she had NO control over -- the record company (hi-lo?)
got a hold of some way to publish her stuff, via some odd
(but not for aimee) arcane legalese, and when approached
by aimee and her manager, rebuffed all their attempts to
recommend songs, avoid terrible, badly produced live
versions and b-sides, etc, and help with artwork. the
company also printed snippets of aimee's published comments
with each of the liner notes, so for all the world it APPEARS
that she was intimately involved with the project. on
her website she writes a pained, eloquent request of fans
not to buy this record -- since she considers it to be far
from her own work. isn't that depressing? and something
that joni would FLIP OUT OVER? so i thought i'd pass it on
in case anyone was interested. i can't remember if it has
been raised here.
hence: my total bliss in the entire package of "bachelor #2"--
no quirky retro crap from '70s groups for kitsch effect --
no stolen material --only one artist's well-wrought vision.
an entire album that is composed in the album form, changing
and shading from song to song. yes, i miss "one" but i
would NEVER NEVER opt for "magnolia" over the total musical
joys of "world's own optimist" "susan" "how am i different"
and one of the best songs i've ever heard in my life --
"red vines." i hear this in my sleep, i hear it in my head
(if i'm lucky), i sing it to people, i'm just so glad it
exists. that sounds over-the-top, but i truly couldn't rave
more. "bachelor #2" is creeping into my inner world's
soundtrack. if anyone is on the fence -- i hope my ridiculous
plug here will push you off it and make you buy this wonderful
record. god knows a whole bunch of my "aimee who?" friends
are getting it for the holidays.
--emily
NP: JM "the boho dance" (sounding so good this morning)
