"We're the same sad story that's a fact. One step forward, two steps back." Hard-hitting words of the sobering kind for the poignant realization of a doomed codependency from Bruce Springsteen's quietly painful ode to dysfunction from Tunnel Of Love (1987), a tragic, perplexing reality also evident in Mann's fifth release, the beautifully thematic The Forgotten Arm (2005). Impressively banged out in just 5 days, keeping it raw and  immediate, would Mann and her 4-piece be able to replicate those lingering feelings found at the end of our most intense relationships, remembered for the ages or be just chucked into the trunk of those to be forgotten department?As the first bell rung, they calmly took to the ring and eased into the strolling, rumbling confessional "Dear John" from The Forgotten Arm to a warm 'Unplugged' audience, making way for Mann's 'VH1 Storytellers' Tokyo night. She kept the pace of this bout measured, letting her husky voice sooth like a hot post match steam bath between rounds. And while the Virginian mildly threw her punches, she made each count to score the necessary winning points each round, whether landing the lazy, rolling "Save Me" from Magnolia, her new acoustic "She Really Wants You" or the walking, drifting searcher "King Of The Jailhouse" that bathed in its country-tinged  urgency where you felt the influence of past ringside coaches The Band. Finishing with a final flurry in "Voices Carry," Mann and her corner showed the yearning vigor of a young contender in its building, crescendo finish.
Naturally winning this bout as expected of any reigning champ in their class, Mann still failed to register a conclusive knockout with this ringside fan. Perhaps this prizefighter needs to watch Rocky IV for motivation to get that hunger back. Ironically reflected in the title of one of her liveliest early rounds, "Going Through The Motions," this night felt a bit like that. It was a win for the Mann corner, but yet bittersweet. |
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report by michael and photos by sam |
 mag files : Aimee Mann 脳内ムービー (05/10/05 @ Shinsaibashi Club Quattro) : review by miyo, photos by mariphoto report (05/10/04 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : photos by mariTales Of Codependence Score A T.K.O. In Tokyo (05/10/03 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : review by michael, photos by samphoto report (05/10/03 @ Liquidroom Ebisu) : photos by sam |
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The official site Aimee Mann http://www.aimeemann.com/ The label site The Forgotten Arm The latest album  "The Forgotten Arm" (US import / UK import / 国内盤) |
previous works
"ライブ ~アット・セント・アンズ・ウェアハウス (DVD付)"
"Lost in Space"(国内盤 / US import - Special Edition / US import - SACD / UK import) "Bachelor No 2"(国内盤 / US import / US import - SACD / UK import) "Bachelor No 2 / Lost in Space"(US import) "Mgnolia(Soundtrack)"(国内盤 / US import / UK import) "I'm With Stupid" (US import / 国内盤) "Whatever"(US import / 国内盤) check the albums? |
 2005All The Way Mad, All The Way Hyped And Rightfully So : Armand Van Helden / Santos (30th Sept. @ Shin-Kiba aGeha)CD review : Abuzeek : Farida's Cafe (22nd Sept.)CD review : The Warrior's Code : Dropkick Murphys (22nd Sept.)Carefree Curiosity Fuels This Feline Far From Home : Anna Nalick (22nd Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Mellow Post-Juno Transmissions In The East From The Great White North : Feist (21st Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)CD review : What's It All About? : Rinaldi Sings (12th Sept.)CD review : Hope You Die Soon By Overdose : Arkangel (10th Sept.)CD review : One Step Closer : String Cheese Incident (8th Sept.)CD review : Antigone : Heaven Shall Burn (31st Aug.)CD review : This Is The New Pop : Love Me Butch (9th Aug.)Making Infectious Post-Fuji Rock Neapolitan Love Within Sterile Walls Of Tokyo : The Dawn of New Wave vol.3 feat. The Go! Team, The Magic Numbers and The Futureheads (2nd Aug. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)CD review : Tsu Ku Shi N Bow : PE'Z (15th Jul.)CD review : Band Of Outsiders : Potion (13th Jul.)CD review : Come To The End : FC FIVE (9th Jul.)CD review : Dresden Dolls : The Dresden Dolls (9th Jul.)CD review : This Is Love, This Is Murderous : Bleeding Through (30th Jun.)Alive And Kicking...Wales' Latest Chanteuse Unfurls Her Disarming Reassurances : JEM (7th Jun. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)CD review : Underneath Are Phantoms : The Tunnel Of Love (4th Jun.)CD review : Enter The Enemy : Everybody's Enemy (3rd Jun.)A Final Episode More Than Satisfying... Boom Boom Satellites' Latest Reality Of Elevating Pleasures : Jack Johnson w/G.Love & Special Sauce (25th May. @ Tokyo Shinagawa Prince Stellar Ball)A Final Episode More Than Satisfying... Boom Boom Satellites' Latest Reality Of Elevating Pleasures : Boom Boom Satellites (19th May. @ Shibuya AX)A Global-A-Go-Go Tune-Up In Effervescence For A Slightly Slimmed Down 26-Piece Shibusa Shirazu : Shibusa Shirazu (13th Apr. @ Kichijoji Star Pine's Cafe)An Ongoing 8 Year-Old Reality Of Superfluous Elevating Pleasures... Boom Boom Satellites Christen Their Latest Most Welcomed Hedonistic Chapter : Boom Boom Satelites (7th Apr. @ Ebisu Liquidroom)A 10 Plus Year Gestation Of International Minor Threats Collectively Hit Tokyo : The Dillinger Escape Plan with Melt-Banana and EMOK (10th Mar. @ Shinjuku Loft) Filthy, Gorgeous And Utterly Magnifique In An Most Aptly Titled Venue... : Scissor Sisters (25th Feb. @ Daikanyama Unit)An Inaugural Tokyo Come Together For Now And Forever... : The Delgados with Autour de Lucie(16th Feb. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Another Day, Another Earned... : Hatebreed (12th Feb. @ Daikanyama Unit)You Can't Stop Thinking About Her...
: Rachael Yamagata (31st Jan. @ Shibuya Club Quattro) |