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Track Listings

1	Freeway
2	Stranger Into Starman
3	Looking For Nothing
4	Phoenix
5	Borrowing Time
6	It's Over
7	Thirty One Today
8	Great Beyond
9	Medicine Wheel
10	Columbus Avenue
11	Little Tornado
12	True Believer
13	Ballantines

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

SMILERS reaffirms Mann's place as one of pop music's most distinctive songwriters, with an exceptional talent for beautiful melodies and insightful lyrics that go beyond platitudes. Mann has sold over two million CDs as a solo artist. She's an Academy Award nominee and Grammy winner. Her last two releases were #1 Billboard Independent albums. SMILERS is available in two formats.

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Despite that unwieldy, rather craven title, @#%&! Smilers has already been acclaimed by some critics as the best record in Aimee Manns long career. Few fans will be disappointed. The opening "Freeway" may be built around a fairly slight play on words ("you got a lot of money but you cant afford the freeway" goes the chorus) but the nagging melody and expansive synth-laden arrangement, reminiscent of her East Coast counterparts and fellow suburban critics Fountains of Wayne, is nigh on irresistible. "Stranger Into Starman" is a mere snippet, and all the better for its brevity, while "Looking For Nothing" is a perfect example of the southern Californian blankness Mann has captured for years now. The lush, orchestrated country-rock of "Phoenix" rhymes the title with "Kleenex" and truly captures the mood of someone leaving for good. Sean Hayes sounds uncannily like a boozy Antony Hegarty on the deceptively jolly closer "Ballantines," named for a whisky, while author Dave Eggers picks up a credit for his rather good "whistling" on the gloomy, undeniably pretty "Little Tornado." The painfully detailed "Thirty One Today," a distant memory for Mann, is another successful attempt to voice dissatisfaction. Only the chirpy horns on the admonishing "Borrowing Time" actually lighten the mood. Smilers is an excellent record, cleverly thought out throughout. But the smiles here are rueful at best -- Steve Jelbert

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.92 x 5.55 x 0.42 inches; 3.2 Ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ SuperEgo Records
Item model number ‏ : ‎ 4034458
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2012
Run time ‏ : ‎ 45 minutes
SPARS Code ‏ : ‎ DDD
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ April 2, 2008
Label ‏ : ‎ SuperEgo Records
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00171MNKQ
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #110,402 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #591 in Rock Singer-Songwriters
- #1,522 in Contemporary Folk (CDs & Vinyl)
- #2,234 in Adult Alternative (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 139 ratings

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4.5 out of 5

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Ron Roberts

Great Packaging

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2009

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I'm not a great music critic, so I'll let you rely on the other reviews for the music and simply comment on the packaging, which is what makes this special edition unique.

I've never seen anything like this. It is the most adorable packaging I've seen for a CD! It is well worth the additional few bucks. It is very durable and very "green." There's no plastic that I can see, rather it is of very strong cardboard or card stock. Those are steel rivets you see on the binding--nice touch! The lyrics appear on durable card stock, one song per sheet along with playful images, presented in a tabbed index similar to those address books we used to carry before our cell phones. The CD is held in a sleeve that is bound along with the lyrics to the extra thick cardboard cover.

This whimsical, earthy, environmentally-sound, and well constructed packaging well reflects the spirit of the music and that of the artist. You are lucky if you get to have this special edition, that is all I can say.

One person found this helpful

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vytob

Amazing knockout

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2012

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Aimee Mann has always been a respectable, respected singer, originally making her mark in the New Wave era with the 'TIl Tuesday group...way back when...
I never felt compelled to buy her music even though I knew of her and her work for close to 30 years.
Well I heard some songs from Smilers, and WOW! How totally amazing. An awesome, compelling sound. Just the right mix of smooth and rough. It's so rare that someone will spend 3 decades making (in my opinion) 3-star albums and then come out with a 5-star sensation. A bit like Emmylou Harris coming out with Wrecking Ball late in her career. But the contrast for Emmylou was not quite as extreme, since she had typically been making 4-star albums before coming out with that knockout.
Total congratulations to someone who can make a gargantuan upward jump after decades of performing!!!!

2 people found this helpful

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ConsumerAdvocate

@#%&*! get yourself a copy

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2008

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Aimee Mann long time singer-songwriter with award winning music quality is back with another collection that is as well written, sung, and enjoyable as ever. Producing consistently good albums that are largely similar to one another is a double edged sword. Many Mann fans have said 'sounds about the same as the last one,' as if that is a problem. If she has produced an album with a very different feel (lets say she went pop in the vein of her cover of "Voices Carry," there would be just as many complains about how she had sold out.

In this reviewer's opinion, doing something really well, and repeating it, is extremely valuable. In sports, that is called super-stardom. In music, it is at times called 'boring,' or 'unoriginal.' Those critiques are amazingly unfair.

@#%&*! SMILERS is a great album, and a return to Aimee's slower, more intimate style. I must say that I did miss the full instrumentation and faster tempo of some of her other albums, but even a less than perfect Aimee Mann album is rewarding.

The shortest song on the album "Stranger into Starman," might be this reviewer's favorite. Careful phrasing, intriguing lyrics, and a wistful piano combine to make a strangely fascinating song.

"The Great Beyond," with a beat that Fionna Apple would love, is another quality track. Subtle backup singers give it just enough layering to support the simple lyrics.

"True Believer" is classic Aimee Mann: slightly 'honky-tonk' piano, cynical lyrics, and Aimee's beautiful voice pulling it all together and making it more than the sum of its parts.

"Ballantines," a duet with a strange voiced male, is funky, quirky, and probably an acquired taste. It's odd and I'm not sure I like it, or that it's long enough, and yet there is something captivating about it.

Aimee Mann is a superstar. Don't knock her for being as good as she is as often as she is. There are about a million other singer/song writers out there who would kill to have her voice, musical skill, and success. If your an Aimee Mann fan, this is a must buy. 3.5/5 stars.

3 people found this helpful

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Jeremiah McManus

Something's missing...

Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2008

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After Aimee's last fabulous release Forgotten Arm I was reluctantly excited to get this new cd...excited for new music from her but reluctantly anticipating somewhat of a letdown. I got pretty much what I expected. This is not a bad cd by any means but I didn't find anything special in it. Maybe omitting electric guitars from the cd takes too much away from Aimee's vintage sound or maybe an overall lack of focus fails to give the music cohesiveness- it's hard to say what's missing from this cd.
With that said, track 7 (31 Today) has a unique sound and may be the best song on the cd, the album artwork is great as usual, and there isn't a bad song on the cd as the music overall is very good...just not special like her last album.
Also, this is cd that really needs to be played on a high quality system in order to appreciate the many subtle instruments...the music loses alot on an average stereo.

4 people found this helpful

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Steven Ritacco

Keep coming back

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2014

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I have pretty much the entire Aimee Mann collection, so I am a fan. That said, something about
this collection of songs just resonates with me and I find myself playing this CD more than her others.
The overall sound and engineering is top notch but the songs each have a way of hitting the repeat
button in my brain. I love the groove and the lyrics. On many of the tracks they lyrics leave you
wondering what might have inspired the song. "Phoenix" is a real stand out, but all the other tracks
set such a high standard it is a shame to call any one out.

2 people found this helpful

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MarthaP

Excellent album from Aimee Mann of 'Til Tuesday fame in the 1980s

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2015

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Fantastic album from a talented female artist, with catchy tunes and her very listenable voice. Reviews were accurate - this is a really worthwhile collection of tunes penned by Aimee. Chose it over other albums of hers because it is more recent (2008) and I hadn't been hearing her on the radio.

One person found this helpful

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John Wilson Stewart

my hero

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2008

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Why am I so surprised that this record is so good?

Maybe it's that so much of modern life seems so fake and so hyped.

"Smilers" is the "real deal", classy craft on-the-hoof without the smoke and mirrors.

Aimee makes it look easy too.

I like every single song on "Smilers" but my favorites (this week) are "Little Tornado", "Phoenix" and "Columbus Avenue".

Try it.

8 people found this helpful

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Cazal bertrand

Com on smilers it s Aimée Mann

Reviewed in France on January 24, 2019

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Merveilleuse aimée mann et sa voix inimitable merci

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LOVE CINEMA

どのアルバムも良い

Reviewed in Japan on November 17, 2022

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この方の歌声は、本当に落ち着きます。繊細でのびやかで・・・
このアルバムも良かった。

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Morten Vindberg

Strong Songwriting and Great Vocals

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2017

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"Smilers" is yet another great record by Aimee Mann. It's a big mystery to me why so few people, at least here in Denmark, still not seem to have discovered what a great artist she is.
This album from 2008 possesses the same virtues of practically all the other albums from Mann . Very fine melodies, often with intelligent and relevant lyrics, musically varied and tastefully arranged and produced.

Of the three singles, "Freeway", "31 Today" and "Phoenix" the first two show Manns’s great ability to write immediately catchy songs. Mann has published - for both of these great music videos. "Phoenix" is a little wistful song - a style which Mann masters with great conviction.
Apart from 2-3 slightly anonymous ballads, the album as a whole very satisfying and represents all the best of what Mann is known for.
"Borrowing Time" and "The Great Beyond" are two songs that show a lighter and effortless songwriting but never lightweight - both song among my personal favorites. More grandiose is the stunning "Looking for Nothing" - really great build-up. Another highlight is "Medicine Wheel"; song that could have been inspired by Robbie Robertson and The Band.

Songs like "Little Tornado", "True Believer," "Columbus Avenue" and "It's Over" belong in the more subdued end and are songs you might oversee in the first and second round, but which may later turn out as winners.

Finally I must mention that it is, like always, a pleasure to listen to Aimee Mann’s great vocals.

3 people found this helpful

Louis

Simply amazing

Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2008

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Although Aimee Mann is not your typical frontpage superstar, this woman has built a steady and devoted following since the mid-80s (when she burst onto the music scene as the leader of the long-gone band Til Tuesday). Two decades later, having survived more ups and downs than many of her musical peers assembled together, she is still an essential and creative artist with a deeply personal songwriting and performing style - not to mention a truly independant spirit in a business where style is often more important than substance.

"Smilers", her sixth complete solo album (not counting the brilliant "Magnolias" soundtrack) continues her tradition of biting, sharp and introspective pop songs with everything you'd expect from her, all the while avoiding complacency. From the engaging and catchy opener ("Freeway", also the debut single) right to the lilting finale ("Ballantines"), the thirteen songs included here form a perfectly segued collection of songs. Of particular interest are the aforementioned tracks, plus the showstopping "31 today" (the closest thing she's come to a pop hit since "Voices carry"), the achingly beautiful "Phoenix" and "It's over", the uptempo "Borrowing time", the irrepressible "Medicine wheel", the haunting "The great beyond" and the pensive "Columbus avenue". The album's unlikely highlight may arguably be "Little tornado", a quiet but powerful song whose understated arrangments and minimalistic production prove yet again that less is more; the hook is so subtle that you probably won't notice it at first, but you'll keep humming it for the rest of the day - which might be the perfect way of describing Aimee Mann's music.

Musically, the album is a smooth continuity of what Aimee does best; the hook here is that "Smilers" features no electric guitars, a brave and daring move that yields great results. The interesting thing is that you don't miss them at all - the acoustic guitars are up front, the rhythm section is solid, and the keyboard work is groovy and tastefully used. The debut single "Freeway" is a great example of this, a song that manages to qualify as a strong rocker even without the presence of electric guitars.

There is not a single dud on this filler-free album; Aimee's voice is great (effortlessly soaring on high notes on "It's over"), her melodies are strong and effective, production is tasteful and filled with wonderful little details, and the songwriting is first rate. It may not propell her to the top of the radio stations playlists, but it will certainly convince her already loyal fanbase that she is well worth following around.

Diehard fans will be wise to purchase the limited deluxe edition of "Smilers"; while it features no bonus tracks, it features an enhanced packaging that is simply stunning.

6 people found this helpful

Joerg Hannemann

Kommt auf leisen Sohlen, aber dann!

Reviewed in Germany on August 3, 2008

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Ehrlich gesagt, war ich beim ersten Hören von "Freeway" schon etwas skeptisch, was die Klasse dieser neuen
CD von Aimee Mann angeht.
Ich bin durchaus ein Fan, obwohl ich das Wort nicht mag - zumindest habe ich alle ihre Alben
und schätze sie, weil sie mit den größten 'mehrfach-hörbar-Faktor' haben.

Als ich das Album dann einmal komplett gehört hatte, war ich mittelmäßig enttäuscht - ist eine Frage der Erwartungen.
Auch bei The Forgotten Arm kam die "Faust" sozusagen erst ziemlich spät, dann aber heftig - das ist hier genauso!

Hat man sich mal an diese ruhigen Klänge gewöhnt und ist bereit sich darauf einzulassen, bekommt man
hier sicher eines der besten Aimee Mann Alben!
Melodien von schier unendlicher Schönheit, außergewöhnlich gefühlvoller Gesang und abermals insgesamt eigenwillig
aber absolut fein gespiel; auch diesmal wieder von einer anderen Band.
'Paul Bryan' - erst noch Bassist, jetzt zusätzlich noch Produzent der Platte. Beides macht er, würde ich sagen, einwandfrei!
Am Schlagzeug hört man den ausgezeichneten, sehr bekannten 'Jay Bellerose' (u.a. zu hören bei Paula Cole etc.).

Bemerkenswert sind auch die sehr einfühlsam eingesetzten Streicher, die so manchem Track hier den nötigen
letzten Schliff zur Perfektion geben (z.B. "Phoenix").

Gibt man dieser CD ein paar Wochen Zeit erschließt sich dem aufmerksamen Hörer eine Welt genialer Songs, von
denen sich einige wirklich tief ins Gehör bohren und einen auf angenehme Weise nicht mehr loslassen.
So finde ich z.B. "It's Over" einfach brillant; nicht nur wegen der Streicher, den Steigerungen, sondern
auch aufgrund einer Gesangsqualität, die ich so bei Aimee Mann noch nicht gehört habe.

Mein derzeitiger Favorit ist "Medicine Wheel", ich kann gar nicht so genau sagen warum, aber allein dieser
Anfang mit dem Klavier, später dann die Bläser (arrangiert von 'Paul Bryan') - so ein sanfter Einsatz
von allen Instrumenten, perfekter Refrain - meiner Ansicht nach einer der besten Tracks von Aimee.
Aber auch "Looking for Nothing" oder "Columbus Avenue" zählen hier zu den Highlights...

Klar, Bachelor No.2 ist sicher ein anderes Album und auch anders zu werten - dennoch würde ich hier
mal 4,5 Sterne geben und da es die hier nicht gibt, aufrunden :)

8 people found this helpful

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@#%&*! Smilers

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