Aimee Mann

'Til Tuesday chick goes solo. Has one of best voices ever.

Information: Aimee Mann
Suggested first purchase/album: Magnolia Soundtrack
Suggested best of: Ultimate Collection

Magnolia Soundtrack (1999) -- This is a soundtrack CD -- and technically its a various artists CD since it includes (at the end) songs by Supertramp, Gabrielle, and Jon Brion -- but most of it might as well be an Amy Mann album since nine out of the thirteen songs are hers. They include many of her best tracks including "One" and "Save Me." Some of these songs would appear on her next proper album, Bachelor No. 2.

Bachelor No. 2 (or The Last Remains of the Dodo) (2000) -- Good, solid music. Nothing that's going to personally make me go completely nuts over it, but there's no denying the great songwriting, production, and Aimee's near-perfect voice.

One More Drifter in the Snow (2006) -- For me, this works better than most Aimee Mann I've heard, since I need some "hook" to get me to somewhere beyond just pretty music. Christmas music is perfect. Her voice is great, the arrangements are pretty and moody, and the songs you've heard a billion times sound brand new as well as classic. Standouts include "Whatever Happened To Christmas," "Christmastime" (though I prefer the duet version with her husband Michael Penn), "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and the original "Calling On Mary."