Copyright 1996 Southam Inc.

The Gazette (Montreal)

February 10, 1996, Saturday, FINAL EDITION

SECTION: ENTERTAINMENT; SPIN DOCTOR; Pg. E7

LENGTH: 859 words

HEADLINE: Aimee Mann still won't make it: Cute, but not beautiful enough for the masses

BYLINE: MARK LEPAGE; THE GAZETTE

BODY:

 

Aimee Mann

I'm With Stupid

DGC

% INFO-LINE: 841-8600, code 8001

If Aimee Mann married Matthew Sweet, radio would only have one album of heartache pop to ignore every two years.

Clearly, Sweet has fared the better of the two. Chances are Mann won't "make it" this time out, even with a funky-drummer beat screaming "hug me to your playlist!" behind the descending progression of Long Shot. Inside it all, Mann's detached, near-ethereal voice sings something that sounds like "Please love me."

There is, of course, a song called All Over Now, and the sad little story of our tattered, patched-up bicycle-tube hearts doesn't come any more keenly described than the "I don't even know you anymore" refrain in Par for the Course. Her voice bears a passing resemblance to Karen Carpenter's at times.

Maybe a Grammy would help her career, like an award for loveliest use of the word "protocol" in the torchy Amateur; or the spooky understanding of human nature shown in That's Just What You Are. Perhaps it is because she captures the masochism and pride-murder of love so well that Mann will likely remain condemned to the purgatory of critical acclaim, like being cute but never beautiful enough for the masses. It should be enough; could it ever be?

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