Customer Reviews

One More Drifter in the Snow

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Aimee Mann's first Christmas CD is solid: Aimee sings ten beautiful songs on this CD and her voice is in excellent form. Aimee passionately involves herself with her artistry; and this CD proves it.

The album starts off with the nostalgic and bittersweet "Whatever Happened To Christmas." The singer laments the fact she isn't as happy as she once was. It is only near the very end of the song that Aimee reveals that she longs for her former lover.

Other great ballads on this CD include "Christmastime" and "Winter Wonderland." The musical arrangements are very nicely done.

One surprise nostalgic song that makes me laugh is "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch." This brings back fond childhood memories when I watched this Christmastime TV special every year in December. Aimee performs this along with Grant Lee Phillips; together they pack a punch on this number.

There are classic Christmas ballads on this CD, too. Aimee sings "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire);" "I'll Be Home For Christmas;" "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "White Christmas." Aimee sings "White Christmas" with a certain extra melancholy style that draws attention to this number on the CD.

The CD ends with another rather bittersweet ballad entitled "Calling On Mary." Aimee makes a play on words between "Merry" as in "Merry Christmas" and "Mary" as is Mary Magdalene, the devoted disciple of Jesus. Aimee then calls upon Mary to grant her inner peace and strength at this very special time of year.

Although the CD impresses me as a solid album, the packaging disappoints me. The CD does not come in any type of jewel case but rather a thin cardboard case with a plastic holder for the CD. The liner notes, therefore, are practically non-existent. You get the credits but that's all. However, there are very nice photos of Aimee and that partially compensates for the cheap packaging.

Overall, Aimee Mann succeeds with her first Christmas CD. The quality of the sound is good and Aimee communicates her passion for the season and all the nostalgia that comes with it. Despite the second class packaging I still highly recommend this CD because Aimee's artistry is excellent on all these songs. She both sings and plays acoustic guitar throughout; I hope this CD brings you joy and peaceful reflection at this coming Christmas season.

Mann's take on the classics are enjoyable--enough of a twist to be interesting, though nothing that would wake the holiday shoppers from their stupor. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is especially good, beginning with a verse before delving into the standard arrangement and conveying a gut-wrenching sense of longing. Likewise, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" is hauntingly un-merry. The standout tracks here, though, are the originals "Whatever Happened to Christmas", "Christmastime", and "Calling on Mary". They're exactly what you'd expect from an Aimee Mann album about Christmas: thoughtful melancholia. For those of us in sunlight-challenged climes, it's just the ticket for wallowing in seasonal affective disorder.

When I read that Aimee was doing a Christmas album, I too was surprised as her music is so introspective and often melancholy. But that is precisely what makes this album work. There are many artists who record Christmas albums without giving them their own personal stamp, and the result is that many of them deliver a kind of relentless bubble-gum cheer that becomes annoying over time. These recordings fail to acknowledge the double-edged sword of Christmas: the joy, but also the memories of years (and people) past, with that accompanying pain/melancholy. That is what this album accomplishes.

The two original songs are true standouts. "Calling on Mary" is an instant classic.

Generally, I'm not one to write reviews but, having read some of the negative reviews on this site, I feel a need to offer another perspective for fear someone might miss out on a really great album. That's right. A really great album. Not just a great Christmas record but a great album, period. Ms. Mann is in fine voice on this record and brings a hip, cool perspective to these old classic Christmas songs while including a couple of contemporary songs of her own which work beautifully with the classics. Overall, there is a laid back vibe to this record with a hint of blues and an oh-so-cool retro guitar courtesy of Duke Levine whom I had never heard before. Now, I plan to seek out his recordings.

The highlights for me include the retro-cool of "Winter Wonderland", the driving beat of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (rock on - lol), the lovely, melodic acoustics of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and the beautiful melancholy of the outstanding "Calling on Mary". The new arrangement of "Christmastime" works in the context of the overall mood of the record but I prefer the original release of this song in which Ms. Mann duets with her husband, Michael Penn, who co-wrote it. And, no review can be complete without mentioning the devious fun heard in "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch." Musically, this record is a departure for Ms. Mann and I wouldn't mind hearing this sound explored further on a non-holiday album.

When I received this album in the mail yesterday, I thought I would listen to it once then put it away until December. However, I found myself listening to it over and over again with a brief interruption to listen to the new Amos Lee album, "Supply and Demand", and an old Miles Davis soundtrack "Ascenseur pour l'echafaud". To say "I love this record" would be a huge understatement.

So, who will appreciate "One More Drifter in the Snow"? On a basic level, most (but, apparently, not all!) Aimee Mann fans will. Others, who have an appreciation of a wide range of great music, from 50's & 60's jazz to chamber music to indie rock, will hear the layers of sonic texture that give this deceptively simple record greater depth than most Christmas albums. Those who understand the season of Christmas is emotionally chaotic encompassing not only joy but melancholy will recognize the emotion Ms. Mann brings to this collection. Those who understand the season of Christmas can accentuate loneliness in the midst of gatherings will understand the message of "Calling on Mary". Those who have been waiting for Christmas music that doesn't fill your head with visions of the crassness of the modern day Christmas season will "get" this album. Those who choose pearls over swine will appreciate "One More Drifter in the Snow".

Thank you, Aimee Mann, for delivering this wonderful album. It is already a classic in my heart.

I really don't understand the negative reviews for this album. Aimee accomplished exactly what she set out to do, which is make a traditional Christmas album with a classic sound. This is a beautiful record. Chill, but engaging, letting the songs speak for themselves. So many artists today over-arrange their Christmas music to make it "interesting," and maintain their "identity." Aimee Mann just wants you to get into the Christmas spirit by listening to and appreciating these songs. Anyone who doesn't like this is basically saying that they'd rather listen to a regular Aimee Mann album. But people who want an early christmas fix should absolutely buy this one.

Here's a test to see if you should buy Aimee Mann's terrific new Christmas CD. Question one, Is your favorite Christmas red (A.) that bright primary red? or (B.) that dark burgundy red? Question two, When you think of Christmas decorations, do you tend to think of (A.) Electric, animotion Santa's and Rudolfs with red 7watt bulb noses?, or (B.) natural evergreen boughs and some candles? Last question, (A.) Colored lights?, or (B.) White lights connected to a dimmer switch? If you answered "B" to all three questions, I'm pretty confident you'll "get" this CD. I love "One More Drifter in the Snow" a little more every time I listen to it. At first the songs all sound similar, but like most great albums, repeat listens pay off bigtime. This is not an album to play at your office party or to open presents to on Christmas morning. It will not bring back warm fuzzy memories of the perfect Christmas, but that's because Aimee Mann knows that there are no perfect Christmases. In even the sunniest moment, the boisterous sendup of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", with the criminally underfamous Grant Lee Phillips, there's always a tinge of sadness in her voice (the great inside joke of this CD is that it was released on Halloween). Still, this is NOT a depressing CD. It is downright cozy and intimate. The simple, understated arraingements include piano, pump organ, acoustic, electric and slide guitar, and banjo, as well as exotic instruments like chamberlin, celest, mandola and even keys. "I'll be Home for Christmas" has a gorgeous slide guitar, and Mann delivers her vocals in a way that emphasises that it is a really heartwrenching song. The ompah pah pah beat of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" acheives the best thing a cover song can; it provides a new interpretaion of a well known song. Mann makes it sound like it could have been written by her as opposed to being hundreds of years old. All the playing is really well done, like all of Mann's music, just very understated. This might be a turn off to some people who like their Christmas music to be all out cheerful and sunny. To me though, the idea of a relentlessly sunny Christmas album by Aimee Mann is the equivalent of a forced smile; a clue to Mann's sense of humor is the picture on the CD itself of a little Santa doll lying face down in the snow. New Christmas songs are always hard to digest as the Christmas cannon is already so stuffed, but the first two she offers are good; it's the third new song, the last on the CD that's the standout. "Calling on Mary", Mann's own composition is a stunner. It's a downbeat song, but it perfectly demonstates how the hope that is Christmas shines through to illuminate a dark world. Like I said, it's an album that you've got to listen to a few times, but, Mann, is it ever worth it!

I'm not a big fan of Christmas records in general but I have quickly become addicted to Aimee Mann's "One More Drifter in the Snow".

The album title is taken from the lyrics to "Calling on Mary", a new song written by Aimee with her musical chief of staff, Paul Bryan.

Hold on there, buddy. Aimee Mann is writing and singing about the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ?

Yes, she is.

"Calling on Mary" is a terrific song too, dark but not somber, optimistic but not sappy. It rocks, in a shuffling kind of way. It doesn't force its point either. "Calling on Mary is voluntary," according to the loping chorus.

"Whatever Happened to Christmas" is another new Aimee Mann original and it taps a deep French Roast vein of melancholy. This is the one you'll listen to on Christmas Eve while you microwave a turkey TV dinner for one. (Hey, invite somebody over. Do yourself a favor!).

"Christmastime" is a brand new arrangement of a song written several years ago by Michael Penn (Sean's brother, Aimee's husband) for the movie "Hard Eight". If you've spent any time in malls or elevators during the holidays, you've probably heard "Christmastime" in heavy rotation on Radio HoHoHo. The reading here on "One More Drifter in the Snow" is a bit more organic, a little less Beatles, a little more Dylan.

Aimee has also released previous versions of two other songs that appear on this collection.

The original Mann arrangement of "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... ") was circulated to radio stations and fans for several years. Aimee sounded like one of the kids waiting up for Santa. In this new recording, Aimee sounds wiser and maybe a bit sadder.

The first recording of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was originally a fan club-only release a couple of years back. It was fine but it lacked the power and focus of the version that's included on "One More Drifter in the Snow". When the bells ring and Aimee sings "We all will be together, if the fates allow," you'll cry for those who are gone and for those who are still with us.

Rather than address the other highlights of the set, let me instead close with a note on the band, the sound and Aimee.

The band is just terrific on "One More Drifter in the Snow". Producer Paul Bryan combines the subtle and distinctive sound of master picker Duke Levine with rich and varied textures from keyboard ace Patrick Warren in a glistening sonic landscape.

And Aimee has never sounded better.

Like many of my favorite Aimee recordings, "One More Drifer in the Snow" took a couple of listens to move in on me.

I noted that in many of the negative reviews for this record, people commented that Aimee sounded "bored" or "boring".

I guess I'm not really surprised. I've been an Aimee Mann fan for many years and I've noticed that while some people "get it", many more don't.

If you liked any other recordings by Aimee Mann, especially the classic "Forgotten Arm", you will probably love this album.

If you have a low threshold for naked emotion, maybe you should start with something more cheerful, like the Patti Smith Christmas record.

Merry Christmas to all!

First, ususally I'm swayed by other peoples reviews. I'll go, yeah, I can see that. But not this time. I love this CD. I'm suprised by the negative reviews she's gotten (take heart Aimee! We love you!) I've always loved Aimee's melancholy sound - so I wasn't shocked by the somber tone of her CD. I'm shocked that other people are shocked... I love her arrangements. "Calling on Mary" is beautiful and sets the mood for what was, according to legend, a very lonely and introspective time in the life of "Mary". I don't need cheerful, upbeat, fast tempo music at Christmas. I'm already manic enough! Thanks Aimee for this gem. Do yourself a favor, buy this CD, think about Christmas and what it means to you.

Aimee Mann provides a broader perspective of love than most artists today. And it's a high view of it on her part, to say some simply don't have love, and this is her duty to it. Her music is a good way to get out of depression and look outside yourself and view others with kindness. We admire people, but often all we think about is ourselves. This particular album is effective at giving Christmas spirit, and I will say there are some who follow her music who would say this was absolutely the perfect choice of words with the arrangement of music and simply can't get past that part. It's a reflective album, but I will agree with those that are wanting good music from her and are always surprised by what she comes up with. Aimee Mann consistently has her place in music today, and anyone can internalize the effects of her words as their own and what they want to say these days. I love the first and last songs on this album, which are original works. All of the songs display her faith in good people, all people. I recommend listening to all of her albums. They're often optimistic but never short of being a full expression. She recognizes our confusion and brings us wisdom that we can relate to through her attitudes, which is also understanding toward our feminine side. This album is about reconnecting with the season, which lately for me has only been passing by. I would say I've been a little off track, and her music here helps me to get back on track to the time. Plus there's no comparison to the way other artists do Christmas.

After being a fan of Aimee's for more than 20 years, it is so great to hear her singing holiday tunes. Tried and true, she does not disappoint.

The traditional songs are the same ones you know and love with Aimee adding her own characteristic sound, snow dust if you will. Her vocals are as beautiful and distinctive as ever. The originals are original indeed, with lyrics that are reflective, melancholy, and nostalgic. They are so much of Aimee's style that they could have been released on a regular Aimee Mann CD, no questions asked. You can really hear her style in Calling on Mary, one of my favorites, which was written by Aimee. Whatever Happened To Christmas (written by Jimmy Webb many years ago) is filled with bittersweet lyrics and displays Aimee's vocal range.

I like her rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen for its joyous Christian meaning. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch is such a fun song, and to hear Aimee Mann sing it is just great. This album is an absolute must for Christmas music or Aimee fans, or someone who just wants to check out another great singer/songwriter. You will be pleasantly surprised.