POLL Of The World's Own Optimist: Aimee Mann albums poll

For me it's between "Whatever" and "Bachelor No. 2," which are the most consistent in terms of being collections of songs. I don't think there's a clunker on either one, but in the end "Whatever" may have more of my favorite songs by her.

b#2 for me but i agree with mr Du's comments completely.

I can't listen to her anymore: too self-satisfied in an NPR way. But I loved I'm With Stupid. One of my first published reviews was of that record.

An artist who has seemingly got better with every record. But The Forgotten Arm will soon be recognised as her masterpiece imo.

i really love whatever, and never used to think that i'm with stupid or bachelor no 2 or lost in space really matched up (haven't heard anything since), but last time i returned to her back catalogue i found myself enjoying the best tracks off bachelor and space best - "pavlov's bell", "lost in space", "backfire", "the fall of the world's own optimist"...

bachelor #2 is probably the one I'd reach for if i was in the mood for aimee mann. i remember liking lost in space quite a bit when it came out, but haven't listened in a long time. The last few have really passed me by.

they are really worth it!

and i was going to add some youtube to the thread but its just shitty live footage mostly :(

i've actually got both of 'em! but they just didn't grab me -- just sorta seemed by the numbers. maybe i'll give them another try ....

Forgotten Arm definitely has several of my favorite tunes by her, like "Goodbye Caroline" and "Dear John," but overall it's just impossible for me to argue with the greatness of "50 Years After the Fair," "Could've Been Anyone," "I Know There's A Word For It," "I Can Hurt You Now," etc. all on one album.

i revisited Bachelor No. 2 recently and it's really held up well, but it and Magnolia are the only ones I own, so whatever other album gets the most votes here I should really check out.

I'm a big fan of "Lost in Space." Between that one and "Forgotten Arm," there's a whole lot of heroin in Aimee Mann's music. The former's got "Pavlov's Bell" and "The Moth," which are primo.

Love the first three or four, but I got off the bus after Lost In Space, and when I saw her live about a year ago, dammit if every song wasn't the same tempo/melody. Did I miss something by ignoring the last two records?

You missed the Christmas album, and apparently her hilarious holiday variety show tours. (But yeah, so many of her songs are the same tempo that when she does record something sprightlier, it sticks out as the song she recorded for that very purpose).

musician making the same kind of music throughout a career, news at ten.

Going with Lost in Space, for its good production and the successful concept-album side to it (detachment/outer-space).

poll shoulda been set set to end on a tuesday

"Guys Like Me" might be my favorite.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

o_0 results - no votes for whatever?!

missed this but would've voted Magnolia - flawless on every level IMO

dude it has supertramp on it.

Totally bummed I missed this. I'm With Stupid would've gotten one vote at least.

Ditto. For all my yakking, I could have at least voted in this thing.

very sad to have missed this, though my vote for either Lost In Space or The Forgotten Arm would have changed nothing.

Probably would have gone with Forgotten Arm when it came down to it. iirc it struck me as a mess on first listen and became an absolute obsession. But I could say the same about Lost In Space. Can't really wrap my head around where Alfred's coming from on this one.

which is the one w/ 'ghost world' on it? probably wouldve voted 4 that one

Ghost World is on Bachelor #2.

I totally agree on TFA seeming like a mess at first. In fact it took like a year for me to even pay any attention to it. But its really one of those records where when it clicks, it is just sooooooo worth it.