Whatever
Aimee Mann
1993
Album Summary
Whatever is the first solo album by the American singer-songwriter Aimee Mann, released in 1993. "I've Had It" is one of the songs featured in Nick Hornby's book 31 Songs. The album, with special note for the song "4th of July", was included by Elvis Costello in his "Costello's 500" list for Vanity Fair. It has also been included in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list.
Wikipedia- HELLO, IS THIS NASA? - YES. - GOOD. LISTEN. I'M SICK OF YOUR BORING SPACE LAUNCHES. I'M JUST AN ORDINARY, BLUE-COLLAR SLOB, BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKES ON TV. - HOW DID YOU GET THIS NUMBER? - SHUT UP!
"Whatever" she says, like she doesn't have a care in the world. Like she's not bothered about my opinion. Well, Aimee, you should be bothered. Here it is: I absolutely adore this fabulous gift you have given the world, you beautiful, beautiful woman. Thank you. Only joking, it's shite.
Extremely mediocre 90's pop rock. The opening track grabbed me a little, but I quickly became bored with this album. Skippable, in a word.
Aimee Mann is super talented. She writes and produces well crafted pop songs, almost Beatle-esque in quality. My only complaint about her is her songs sometimes lack emotion - she's almost too cool. Minor complaint though. Really well done debut solo album. 4 stars.
Whatever conjures up the best elements of surf-pop, new wave, and folk rock (Roger McGuinn has a benevolent eye cast over this recording). Out on her own with a truly great batch of confessional but self-assured songs, Aimee Mann crafted a classic right out the bag with her first solo record. I'm with Stupid was more openly defiant and rougher, but way back in 1993 Whatever already found Mann at the peak of her emotional and musical strength. Check out the layers of distorted guitars on "I Should've Known" coupled with an irresistible melody; the Byrds-isms on "Fifty-Years after the Fair" with its wonderful vocal harmonies and McGuinn's 12-string guitar resounding; the gang voices on "Say Anything" and the poignant "4th of July". Mann even tackles a May-September romance on "Mr. Harris" and sounds as dark as Days of Open Hand-era Suzanne Vega on "Jacob Marley's Chain". Meticulously produced (by Jon Brion), written and performed, Whatever is a pop powerhouse.
mid tempo pleasantry. slightly over-wrought in places but I like her vocals. From a similar mould to Tori Amos with the alt turned down and the country turned up and that's no bad thing
I am biased. Aimee Mann went to my high school. I wasn't aware of this fact until I was 24 and working on the film Magnolia. One of the sound guys brought his nephew to the set who was visiting from out of town. He was wearing a brown and orange Monican t-shirt. Aimee Mann happened to be on set that day and noticed the shirt. She said something along the lines to him, "Midlothian and Monican are high school rivals, and I attended Midlothian." A couple hours later she was gone and I approached him to comment on his shirt, saying basically the same thing. "You're the second person to tell me that today," he said. Crazy. What are the chances? I kept hoping she'd come back to the set before the end of filming, but she never did. A couple months later I worked on a Fiona Apple video with PTA and he was signing Magnolia soundtracks and giving them out to the crew. For the foreseeable future, I bought all of Aimee Mann's music and saw her perform a few times at Café Largo on Fairfax. She was great. All of this happened AFTER Whatever was released and until now, I wasn't super-familiar with this album. Jon Brion was heavily involved in the Magnolia soundtrack and he's here too. Though not as fully formed as her later work, the album has all the hallmarks of the work I know. Reaching vocals against basic distortion, slower acoustic songs with a smattering of samples with a heavy emphasis on her soothing voice. This album was best played in the 1990s in middle-suburbia. Ideally listened to on CD, but definitely in the bedrooms of late-teen-anxty girls who yearn for a life far from Midlothian and closer to Melrose Place.
Reminds me a lot of Alanis. I like the music and angst behind her lyrics!
Amazing production. One of the best recorded albums on the list so far. I really enjoyed the vocals and multi-tracked harmonies. However, the songs are forgettable, ultimately taking away from such a great sound overall.
I have always been a sucker for what I call "Lilith Fair music" -- you know the type: 90s singer songwriters that aren't too pop but aren't too rock, either. This album fits right into that. Also typical of artists in this category, the lyrics are often sharp and thought-provoking, overlaid on generally upbeat music. Even though I liked it based on the baseline qualifications mentioned above, I do feel like other females singer songwriters in the 90s did the same thing, only better. For me, it started to drag the longer it went on. Maybe somewhat forgettable to me, but it was very easy to listen to, though!
Never heard of Aimee Mann before, but wow, the album really sucked me in. Her voice is nice, light, and airy. The songs feel like just the right mix of rock and pop. It might not stand out next to other albums, but it was a really enjoyable listen.
I like her voice and the music is pleasent, although the country vibe is not for every mood. Good vibes but doesn't feature a memorable song.
Reasonable nice. It just kind of feels like the music an ex girlfriend would make. You want to be supportive and it’s cool she’s doing stuff but it all sounds a little bit average…
3.1 - SCENE: Garage sale. Shopper approaches seller. Garage sale shopper: Hey, I grabbed a couple CDs from the box over there. Lemonheads and uhhh… (looks down at CD’s) Aimee Mann. How much? Seller: I was asking 75 cents a piece? Shopper: Would you take a buck for both? Seller: Sure, that works.
Wetter than SHACK's luscious locks after one of his infamous six-hour showers.
Wow, I hate this. Her voice is annoying and the style is very adult contemporary. 2
The first half felt like I was trapped in a Macy's commercial from 2009, but the back half a a couple nice bits that brought it up a tad for me.
I think its cool when someone's first and last name both end in double letters. That's potentially the most stand-out aspect of this album. Expert songwriting that sums into something unremarkable. This is a softball tossed underhand straight down the middle. No spin. No mustard. No funny business. No affect. No risks. No fun. D
Boring, forgettable. You really have to wonder how some of these albums make it onto this list.
This was really good. Not a bad song on here. Consider me a Mann Fann.
I've loved this album since it came out. The slightly flat, pitchy vocals matched the 90s vibe for me. I'm just hoping that the 1001 trend of similar albums two days in a row brings some Juliana Hatfield. Swoon
Really really good!! It felt like an unhinged Michelle Branch. I'd probably revisit it again.
I first met Aimee Mann watching sitcoms, back in the (now) distant 90s. What a trip back in time listening to this CD, and the certainty that good music never ages.
An ethereal, entrancing album, packed to the gills with pleasing tunes and a voice to match.
11/23/2021 Today's Album: "Whatever" by Aimee Mann - This album is very easy on the ears. It sounds like a cross between Fleetwood Mac, R.E.M, and the 3 blonds. That classic rock backdrop with very interesting additions like sharp guitar solos floating around the channels or a variety of synths providing different backdrops. I really like a lot of the melodies here and the songs keep my attention with how they build and how good the production is. There are some slower songs that end up losing me and I think there are a lot of times where the singers vocals just don't really work with what's going on musically, but this is a very occasional problem and often her voice is extremely strong and smooth. This is 90s grunge throwing it back to some classic Fleetwood Mac sounds and I think it works out fairly well. Score: 7.5/10 Solid Highlights: I should have known, 50 years after the fair, put me on top, say anything, I know there's a word, Way back when.
Solid country album, has a fun bit of rock and pop in it that gives it a strong identity. Good singer, good music, good vibe 7/10
I'm a sucker for a good '90s alt/pop album and this one hits all the right notes for sure. Really fun. I'm surprised I haven't listened to her more.
Excellent female singer-songwriter 90s alt rock. Feels like the kind of vibes that are popular again
Decent pop/rock album with a storytelling style lyricism. Tad bit long but overall catchy enough to warrant 4 stars
I just love her voice. Not my favorite of hers, but still very enjoyable.
I love pretty much everything about Aimee Mann. Her songwriting, tone, voice,… also she’s quite funny. I know it’s not genius or groundbreaking, but I return to her records all the time.
this album surprised me; i wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as i did. i wish i found this album as a teenager. i would have grown such an attachment, and my former teenage self is mourning that loss. this album is a four, but i know i will listen to this album more. it could easily become a five! the songs are catchy, beautiful, witty. "jacob marley's chain"--everyone knows the reference but it's still fresh and sounds eerie. "i should've known" isn't the only song with attention grabbing lyrics, but this song definitely stood out. there's some great guitar work in here, too. lots of emotions, but it still makes for a lovely, calming listen. so many instruments among the album's personnel! perhaps this is the only album that has dixie cup within its liner notes?
Never heard this but I do love some of Aimee Mann's stuff. I found a lot to like on here. Very lovely.
The “til Tuesdayesque rocker that opens the record is a bit off-point in terms of what’s to come which is very polished and utterly winsome songwriter-powered pop. Just a treat to listen to, really, as was the whole career renaissance that followed.
I hadn't ever listened to this particular album which is ridiculous because Aimee Mann is amazing.
Just made me really sleepy and relaxed but defiantly a relaxed and clam album with Beautiful vocals along with nothing ever to fast but just slow so not too bad
Solid if unspectacular, but maybe an album that would benefit from repeated listening. Sounds kind of like a lot of artists I love, so probably someone I could get into. Really torn on how to score this - might as well err on the side of generosity!
It's a little bit singer-songwriter, a little bit americana, all cloaked in the hue of the 90s, a little irony, a little alternative. Aimee's voice is very far up in the mix, but I think that's a good thing to focus on her writing, which is very strong, save a few spots. It's all very earnest, and I like it. Favorite tracks: "I Should've Known", "Say Anything", "I Could Hurt You Now"
I was actually a little let down by this, not quite as good as lost in space or some of her other stuff, but still some great songs
These feel like songs that would have been in the background of my life during my college years then later, in the background of grocery stores as I got older. This album is a lovely listen, with thoughtful and mature songwriting and a nice pop sensibility. It is tightly and slickly produced, with not a flaw to speak of. And Mann’s vocals are pretty perfect. But I listened to the whole thing twice, and I’m surprised to say that I kind of checked out about halfway in. Like six songs were enough and I sort of mentally got the point. Mann would have really benefited from an edit here. She could have dropped three songs and ended up with a much better album.
Not bad... not exactly my cup of tea. I found myself dragged into the songs with more of a narrative like Mr. Harris, but at other parts of the albums the songs/delivery kind of bled together. I wish this album had the Magnolia song on it.
I enjoyed this. It's MOR soft rock, but lyrically engaging and has a nice feeling about it. It sounds like someone singing from the heart. A bit of a country vibe in places. 3.5/5
Beautiful songs, beautiful voice.. just not in the mood for 90s rocky romanticism, not feeling it now.. but know where to go if I ever do!
Un poco rollo. Parecido a Shania Twain. Parece que tiene discos mejores. Los buscaré. Nada, otros discos me gustan más, pero no, se queda en un 3. No es mi estilo. Es como Shania Twain, un poco mejor.
I liked it a lot more than I thought I would and it was a more varied record than I anticipated.
I only know Aimee Mann from the magnolia soundtrack and this album isn’t as good as that but it still solid. I wa shining to it by the end but few songs really stood out. Feels like a proto-Taylor Swift album. Fav song: Say anything
Кажеться неплохие песни на уровне земфиры. Но не более. Еще женский REM.
Oh this is a nice album. Sounds like Taylor Swifts older sister lol. This music just makes me feel good. The sound that could play in the radio all day because it's so easy to listen to, but it would quickly get very boring. Made my day I wanna give it a 4. The lyrics are nice too. Probably deserves a 3 because she doesen't actually sing that well. but idc:))
It's like diet The Pretenders. Good, hooky songs and sharp lyrics. Honestly though, I fell off and got bored. Hours later, I don't remember a single motif from the album. 3.5/5.
Doet me een beetje denken aan Heather Nova, maar dat was het dan ook wel.
Some cool instrumental stuff happening, and she has that great millennial dread that many of her contemporaries demonstrate and that I quite enjoy. But overall samey.
I enjoyed listening to this, but found myself lingering on the album’s potential rather than the album itself . It’s not surprising that it’s Amy Mann’s first album because it seems like one of someone who hasn’t yet come into their own, which we all know Amy Mann does just a few years later. Instead of having an original take, this album takes the best of 90’s music and puts it all together. Which makes it good, but not great.
Contrairement à mon camarade d'écoute robvipère je n'ai pas trouvé cet album si catastrophique que ça, mais l'horreur de rob n'a ici d'égal que mon manque d'intérêt.
Aimee Mann nije mi dobro, aimee mann, nije mi dobro!!! Čista malo jača trojka! Sviđa mi se dosta par pjesama, stavilo se i srce na spotifaj. Could've Been Aynone, Stupid Thing...I've Had It (podsjeća nekako na National, al više instrumentalno).
Completely forgettable. But fine. Not sure why it's on the list. Wouldn't turn it off if it came on again, but not seeking it out, either.
Nothing really jumped out at me on this album. I like Aimee's music, and this was an easy listen.