One More Drifter in the Snow - yep, that’s pretty much it
I received my copy of Aimee Mann’s latest album, the Christmas-themed One More Drifter in the Snow, yesterday.
It actually took me three separate sessions to get through this rather slight 10-track CD, and, while I’d love to say that this was because I enjoyed it so much that I had to listen to every song a zillion times, that would be a big fat porky. As it happens, this is a distinctly unimpressive affair, and, as far as I’m concerned, easily the worst release Aimee Mann has ever put out.
As I said before, I’m not particularly enthralled by the concept of “Christmas albums”, because, generally speaking, all you get are a bunch of tired songs everyone’s heard a million times before that no-one in their right mind would want to listen to outside of the festive period. I had similar reservations about Sarah McLachlan’s Christmas album, Wintersong, but she, to her credit, was at least able to take some well-known songs and put a new spin on them by filtering them through her own distinctive style. Aimee Mann has no such luck: the songs sound flat and uninspired, and her reedy voice just doesn’t suit the material. (Don’t even get me started on her rendition of You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.)
I’m sad to say this, because she’s one of my favourite musicians, but this is very much the bottom of the barrel. There’s not a single track that makes this CD a worthwhile purchase, and I’m rather sorry I spent money on it. The whole endeavour smells suspiciously like “side project”, though, so with any luck she’ll be putting out something better before too long. Myself, I’m going to go back and listen to her best album, Bachelor No. 2.
Update, December 19, 2006 05:57 PM: Fixed dead links.
|
