Photo- Ellen Rehak
2018 Grammy Winner 'Mental Illness'
Produced by Paul Bryan
Kudos For Aimee Mann's 'Mental Illness'
Variety:
Mental Illness is a striking entry in Mann’s catalog not just for the instruments it lacks, but for the addition of a string quartet as beautifully and hauntingly realized as any you’ve ever heard on a contemporary record, thanks to bassist/producer Paul Bryan’s unexpected deftness with subtle orchestration.
Los Angeles Times:
30 Essential Los Angeles Records of 2017
Mann’s newest studio album is also one of her best, which is saying something considering the body of work she’s responsible for. One of L.A.’s most accomplished songwriters.
Rolling Stone:
Top 20 Records Of The Year
Embracing her most dour, dreary and dire moods has freed Mann to fully explore her sardonic fits of despair in lyrics that, as always, are both allusive and precise. Mental Illness brims with tweaked commonplaces that rejuvenate pop's romantic clichés. And the arrangements, all expertly worried-over soft rock, perfectly complement Mann's vocals, which barely conceal a seething pain underneath her icy reserve. K.H.
Albumism
50 Best Albums Of The Year Mental Illness
With her signature eloquence and grace, Mann once again proves herself one of the most adept songwriters when it comes to externalizing the psychological and emotional trauma—indeed, the mental illness—that so many of us hold deep inside, for fear of exposing our vulnerabilities. And while the truth can be hard to accept, it’s reassuring to know that someone out there cares enough to listen and honor these stories through song.
The Guardian
Hidden Gems Of 2017
Despite four decades as a songwriter on a par with Randy Newman and Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann rarely gets her dues. And Mental Illness, her ninth album, is a low-key yet major work. She picked the title to mock critics who ignore the diversity of her catalogue to label her a sad sack, but inhabits depressive stoicism with total conviction and characteristic grace. The acoustic arrangements are light, her melodies indelible – the counterpoint to 11 beautifully melancholic songs about addiction to extreme emotional states.
Brooklyn Vegan
Alex Kerns’ Top 10 Albums of 2017
Aimee Mann Mental Illness
Glide Magazine
Top 20 Albums Of 2017
Mann’s first solo release in five years, Mental Illness finds her taking a quieter approach to her craft, a seemingly different tack than she took last time around when, teaming with Ted Leo in The Both, where she pursued her typical pop approach. Mental Illness may offer a nod and wink, but these songs are brewed with softer sentiments, a quiet charm, and reserve that’s consistently gorgeous given Mann’s deft touch.
The Dolphin
Top 10 Albums of 2017
An album titled Mental Illness sounds like a tough listen, and it is. With sparse arrangements, Mann unleashes a harrowing look at the loneliness and anger through various stories and character studies, not holding back on the despair of these tales. It’s not news that Aimee Mann is one of the best songwriters around, and she is album to compose gloom like Leonard Cohen, create vignettes like Paul Simon, and personify troubled characters like Randy Newman.
Paste
Top 50 Albums of 2017
Aimee Mann Mental Illness
Consequence Of Sound
Top 50 Albums of 2017
Aimee Mann Mental Illness
Chicago Tribune
Top 20 Albums Of 2017
Aimee Mann Mental Illness
Kansas City Star
Top 20 Albums Of 2017
Aimee Mann Mental Illness
Los Angeles Times
2017 Recordings To Revisit
Unless you’re Nick Drake or Nico, general malaise seldom makes for an engaging listen, but Mann, who is one of her generation’s finest songwriters, roams within these darkened corridors with expertly crafted, miraculously arranged vignettes on solitude and melancholy.
Global Comment
2017’s Top Ten Albums
Mental Illness is a meticulously crafted album, and a standout in Mann’s already amazing catalog
TOUR DATES with Jeff Parker
Guitarist Jeff Parker is best known for his inventive playing in post-rock outfit Tortoise and his collaborations with Rob Mazurek and other Chicago-centric experimental combos, but on his fantastic new solo LP The New Breed, out Friday, June 24th, Parker’s in a funky, soulful mode.
It’s a killer record — one of our most listened to of the year — equally rooted in jazz and funk, and built upon beat-making experiments Parker posted to his MySpace page back in the late 2000s in Chicago.
In 2013 and ’14, Parker began the process of relocating to Los Angeles, and in the new city, he found himself excavating those old beats, working with his friend, producer and bassist Paul Bryan, drummers Jamire Williams and Jay Bellerose, and saxophonist Josh Johnson, to layer tight, funky compositions over those foundations. “Get Dressed” struts like vintage MGs, while “Executive Life” sounds like an outtake from Madlib’s Beat Konducta series. On a cover of Bobby Hutcherson’s “Visions” and the woozy “Jrifted,” the band mixes up a trance-inducing brew. ~Aquarium Drunkard
Jeff Parker The New Breed- International Anthem Records
Kudos! for The New Breed
Best Albums of 2016- The New York Times
Best of 2016- The Los Angeles Times
Best Of Jazz 2016- The Huffington Post
KMHD Top Jazz Albums of 2016
Best Albums 2016- Jazz Standard
Best Jazz Album of 2016- The Observer
Best of 2016- The Los Angeles Times
Best Of Jazz 2016- The Huffington Post
KMHD Top Jazz Albums of 2016
Best Albums 2016- Jazz Standard
Best Jazz Album of 2016- The Observer
Credits:
Produced by Paul Bryan and Jeff Parker
Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Paul Bryan
Jeff Parker - electric guitar, Korg MS20, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron, loops and samplers, MIDI and drum programming
Josh Johnson - alto saxophone, flute, clarinet, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron
Paul Bryan - electric bass guitar
Jamire Williams - drums
Jay Bellerose - drums and percussion (“Visions” only)
Ruby Parker - vocals
Mastered by Dave Cooley
Matt Mayhall Debut Album: Tropes- on Skirl Records
Credits:
Produced by Paul Bryan
Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Paul Bryan
Matt Mayhall- drums, percussion, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron, Yamaha VSS-1
Paul Bryan- electric bass guitar
Jeff Parker- electric guitar
Jeff Babko- B3, Fender Rhodes, Roland SH-1000
Chris Speed Tenor saxophone
Mastered by Dave Cooley
Produced by Paul Bryan
Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Paul Bryan
Matt Mayhall- drums, percussion, Wurlitzer electric piano, Mellotron, Yamaha VSS-1
Paul Bryan- electric bass guitar
Jeff Parker- electric guitar
Jeff Babko- B3, Fender Rhodes, Roland SH-1000
Chris Speed Tenor saxophone
Mastered by Dave Cooley
Jeff Parker- The New Breed International Anthem Records
The New Breed is Jeff Parker’s most vibrant and comprehensively personal work yet, appropriately the first in 11 years with only his name in the “lead artist” column.
“It’s a killer record — one of our most listened to of the year…”
-Aquarium Drunkard
“It’s a killer record — one of our most listened to of the year…”
-Aquarium Drunkard
SoundCloud Player
Meshell N'degeocello Tour 2014
I'll be playing with the tremendously gifted Meshell N'degeocello and her band this summer. We will be touring behind her great new record, Comet Comet To Me, out June 3rd.
A few East Coast Dates below: Come out and see us!
Friday May 30: Santa Monica CA
Tues June 03: NYC, NY, Poisson Rouge
Wed June 04: Baltimore MD, Soundstage
Thurs June 05: Alexandria VA, The Birchmere
Friday June 06: Philadelpha, PA, World Cafe Live
Saturday June 07: Cambridge MA, The Sinclair
Full list of tour dates HERE
A few East Coast Dates below: Come out and see us!
Friday May 30: Santa Monica CA
Tues June 03: NYC, NY, Poisson Rouge
Wed June 04: Baltimore MD, Soundstage
Thurs June 05: Alexandria VA, The Birchmere
Friday June 06: Philadelpha, PA, World Cafe Live
Saturday June 07: Cambridge MA, The Sinclair
Full list of tour dates HERE
SoundCloud Player
THE BOTH- produced by Paul Bryan
The Both's first album represents the results of a well-conceived collaboration between two artists who've built up considerable goodwill with their long careers of first-rate songcraft.
Other highlights of the albums are Mann's rock-solid bass playing, the well-placed keyboards and simple production of Paul Bryan, and Scott Seiver's strong drumming.
The Both never sounds like Leo playing Mann's songs or vice versa. They work hard to make it a true collaboration, and due to that effort and the high quality of the songs they each brought, it works amazingly well. Well enough that it rates with the best work of either artist, which, given their respective track records, is saying a great deal. -AllMusic
The Both's first album represents the results of a well-conceived collaboration between two artists who've built up considerable goodwill with their long careers of first-rate songcraft.
Other highlights of the albums are Mann's rock-solid bass playing, the well-placed keyboards and simple production of Paul Bryan, and Scott Seiver's strong drumming.
The Both never sounds like Leo playing Mann's songs or vice versa. They work hard to make it a true collaboration, and due to that effort and the high quality of the songs they each brought, it works amazingly well. Well enough that it rates with the best work of either artist, which, given their respective track records, is saying a great deal. -AllMusic
Listen to Aimee Mann's new single Charmer!
Full Album release date: September 18th 2012. SuperEgo Records
Full Album release date: September 18th 2012. SuperEgo Records
Her first release since 2008's @#%&*! Smilers, Aimee Mann's new single shows off the more pop-oriented side to her usual acoustic tendencies. "Charmer," an upbeat, synth-heavy track, takes a dig at personable people who hide ulterior motives. "The album explores the ideas of charm and people who are charming," explains Mann, "and how they can sometimes be really fun, but sometimes very manipulative – there's a darker side."
The single is from Mann's eighth studio album, Charmer, which will drop on September 18th. Mann will tour in the fall in support of the album's release.
By NATALIE MORIN
The single is from Mann's eighth studio album, Charmer, which will drop on September 18th. Mann will tour in the fall in support of the album's release.
By NATALIE MORIN
Mojo Working Article: Aimee Mann in the studio with producer Paul Bryan
Click Mojo logo for full article and pix
Mordant, erudite, singer-songwriter looks to Split Enz, Cars for album number eight.
For someone who has consistently tracked her chart success with 80's synth pop band 'Til Tuesday, Aimee Mann's new album is, surprisingly a return to the genre she ran away from. "this is a 'pop' record," she says over a crackly phone line...
For someone who has consistently tracked her chart success with 80's synth pop band 'Til Tuesday, Aimee Mann's new album is, surprisingly a return to the genre she ran away from. "this is a 'pop' record," she says over a crackly phone line...
Tanita Tikaram's New Album, Can't Go Back… Release Date July 27th 2012. Edel Records
“I can’t put anything out until it’s good enough, it has to feel right. It took a year to find the right producer!”
I wanted to merge sincerity of performance with movement and groove and then to merge English originality and quirkiness with American warmth and openness. I’m not a poet and I didn’t want something that sounded like I was reciting poetry. Paul Bryan who produced the album has worked with Allen Toussaint, he’s a consummate musician and he understood straight away. I made him laugh and he made me feel involved.”
READ MORE...
Lindsay Fuller- You Anniversary on ATO Records
The latest album by Birmingham-native Lindsay Fuller is a gorgeous, haunting gem. Fuller moves seamlessly through the lower regions of a vocal register that has incredible heft. On each track, you’ll be struck by her uncanny ability to control the seemingly volatile power she can produce. Get ready to experience something vast and beautiful, yet simultaneously ominous—very rock & roll.
Initially, You, Anniversary brought to mind a Lucinda Williams/Lower Dens synthesis, a deeper and folksier Brandi Carlile, or a female version of Ryan Adams (at his very best—and as a baritone), but ultimately, Fuller displays an impressive songwriting sensibility and an arresting musical style for which there’s no fair precedent or comparison. She enlists the aid of some talented musicians, including Paul Bryan, who doubles as bassist and producer, and has been involved in producing projects with the likes of Aimee Mann and Grant Lee Phillips.
-Oxford American Magazine
Initially, You, Anniversary brought to mind a Lucinda Williams/Lower Dens synthesis, a deeper and folksier Brandi Carlile, or a female version of Ryan Adams (at his very best—and as a baritone), but ultimately, Fuller displays an impressive songwriting sensibility and an arresting musical style for which there’s no fair precedent or comparison. She enlists the aid of some talented musicians, including Paul Bryan, who doubles as bassist and producer, and has been involved in producing projects with the likes of Aimee Mann and Grant Lee Phillips.
-Oxford American Magazine