Everything's Different Now

Ah, what better thing to do on a long and uninteresting day than to look up used CDs on Amazon, preferably fairly obscure titles from the '80s or '90s. So it came about that I was browsing through some Aimee Mann CDs the other day and saw something interesting--an album from her days in 'Til Tuesday called Everything's Different Now (1988). You might recall 'Til Tuesday as the band with the '80s Top 40 hit "Voices Carry." Encouraged by some positive reviews on Amazon, I thought I'd give some of Mann's earlier work a listen.

Everything's Different Now sounds very much like one of Mann's solo albums--her crystal clear voice is featured on every track, and nearly all of the songs exhibit her trademark sarcastic and amazingly clever lyrics. However, what's notably missing is the polished production of her later work. In reverse of the last album I reviewed, here's a case where lyrical sophistication runs miles ahead of musical sophistication. One reviewer on Amazon said these songs reminded him of a fireside sing-along, and I think that's right on the money. While a lot of Mann's later songs have an anthemic quality about them, these are even more pared down. There's a simplicity to them musically, not necessarily a bad one, but one that reminds you not to take these songs too seriously. The most unfortunate touch is the '80s synth effects that really date the album.

But, hey, it was the '80s and a little trendiness can be forgiven. Really, you can't go wrong with Mann's vocal talent and brilliant songwriting. There are some real gems on this album, sad and sweet and smart, especially the title track and "The Other End (of the Telescope)": "There was a time not long ago/I dreamt the world was flat/and all the colors bled away/and that was that/and in time, I could only believe in one thing/the sky was just phosphorus stars hung on strings/and you swore that they’d always be mine/when you can pull them down anytime." Who else could come up with lyrics like that? And my favorite: "So long and sorry darling, I was counting to forever and never even got to ten" on "RIP in Heaven."

Given the choice, most days I'll pick musical perfection over lyrical perfection. But in this case I'll let some musical roughness slide and enjoy these sophisticated sing-alongs. If you're an Aimee Mann fan you will definitely enjoy this album, and if you're not an Aimee Mann fan, you should be.