Aimee Mann

Motion Picture Magnolia

OK, but kind of pointless

Review Score:

(4/10)
I picked this up after seeing the movie. The movie was what I call a "gorgeous mess" -- lots of individual pieces that were sort of interesting to look at, some great performances, but ultimately adding up to nothing and, more problematically, giving the distinct impression of trying too hard. This same problem permeated "Boogie Nights" -- Anderson should stop trying so hard to be some combination of Lynch, Scorsese and Tarrantino (who himself is highly derivative) and just be himself, as he was in the wonderful "Hard Eight." Anyway, this is about the soundtrack, not the movie. I picked this up after hearing PT Anderson gush about Aimee Mann, but I'm sorry, I just don't get it. She's got kind of a sexy, engaging voice, but these songs sound so half-baked and pointless. I actually enjoyed it when the ultra-cliched Supertramp tracks came on! I don't see anything particularly compelling about her lyrical abilities either, as "One" shows. I normally take some time to warm up to a new CD, but this one has gotten worse with each successive listening.

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