Zack: I had this album classified as folk, but given the fact
that it came out in the 90s and the album title is basically a disaffected and
angst-y shrug, I kind of guessed I was off. Sure enough, this album has much
more in common with Tori Amos or Jeff Buckley than Joni Mitchell or Cat
Stevens. But what really stands out from Whatever isn’t anything about genre
but the songwriting. It was sort of Costello-ish in that regard. Everything
seemed direct and personal and wry. I didn’t really notice the lyrics until
about halfway through the album, which was about when my interest perked up.
I’m definitely going to have to block off time to go back and investigate how
witty she is in the first half.
Favorite Tracks: Say Anything; Jacob Marley’s Chain; I Could’ve Hurt
You Now
Emily: In the midst of a '90s nostalgia boom, where there's seriously a show on MTV called '90s House in which a bunch of clueless millennials complete cheesy challenges only with access to '90s-era technology (and outfits), Aimee Mann's debut album fits right in. Whatever really embodies that early-'90s alt-rock-pop sound that invaded albums and airwaves after Nevermind. The lyrics are where it really shines, though, with clever riffs and conversational confessions. I really enjoyed both the sound and the songwriting of this album, and as with most lyric-heavy albums, it will definitely be worth delving deeper into it in the future.
Favorite Tracks: Say Anything; 4th of July; Stupid Thing
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