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Bachelor No. 2 | 
 enlarge | Artist: Aimee Mann
Label: Superego Records
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $0.99 (8%)
New (32) Used (31) Collectible (2) from $3.97
Rating:  161 reviews
Sales Rank: 3371
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 5 x 0.2
MPN: 2
UPC: 698519000224
EAN: 0698519000224
ASIN: B00004RG4Y
Publication Date: 2001
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | How Am I Different | | • | Nothing Is Good Enough | | • | Red Vines | | • | The Fall of the World's Own Optimist | | • | Satellite | | • | Deathly | | • | Ghost World | | • | Calling It Quits | | • | Driving Sideways | | • | Just like Anyone | | • | Susan | | • | It Takes All Kinds | | • | You Do |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Bachelor No. 2 is the product of a woman whose 40th birthday looms months ahead, and it illustrates how a little seasoning has paid off creatively for Aimee Mann. Always an incisive lyricist, the eloquent singer-songwriter further hones her wordplay to a razor-sharp edge. Her subjects are so adroitly sliced and diced that little blood is shed, though they're permanently cut down to size. "Calling It Quits" targets some cad who is "numbering himself among the masterminds 'cause he's hit upon the leverage of valentines." Not that Mann spares herself from a steely assessment: "I know I had it coming / From a Caesar who was only slumming" she admits in "The Fall of the World's Own Optimist." Though this 13-track collection borrows three songs from its immediate predecessor, Mann's soundtrack to Magnolia, its musical ingenuity and consistency (notable considering five different production teams are credited here) make the scattered redundancies irrelevant. Mann's artistic growth has been evident with each new release, and Bachelor marks her biggest leap forward to date. --Steven Stolder
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| Customer Reviews: Read 156 more reviews...
America's Answer to Sarah McLachlan October 14, 2008
Bachelor No. 2 was a comeback album for one of the breakout hits of the 80's, Til Tuesday's Aimee Mann. With hits like "Love in a Vacuum" and "Voices Carry," the Boston-based band seemed to be on the verge of superstardom; however, the band broke up and Aimee tried for years to establish herself as a solo act more interested in artistic merit rather than commercial success. It wasn't until 1999 when Aimee, after establishing her own record label, broke through and succeeded in her goal. The intricate detail in her writing is evident in every track on this album, particularly on the song, Deathly, my personal favorite due to its moving orchestration and the way she uses her voice like an instrument to draw the listener into the emotion of the piece. Other standouts are Cigarettes and Redvines, The Fall of the World's Own Optimist, Save Me, the song nominated for an Oscar from the soundtrack of the movie "Magnolias," and Calling it Quits. If you haven't heard much from Aimee and are looking for some sort of comparison, I believe that she and Sarah McLachlan have a lot in common. They tend to take a long time in between producing albums, they try new approaches when they do produce their music, and they are both geniuses as writers as well as performers which their albums plainly demonstrate. Aimee Mann is a fantastic artist who writes deadly-accurate lyrics. You would do well to purchase this album along with her other, "Lost in Space."
Ignore The Review Below--This is a Timeless Classic December 18, 2007
This CD never gets old. I love a lot of the stuff that Aimee has done, but this is my favorite from start to finish. "Red Vines", "How Am I Different" and "Deathly" (to name 3) rank with Aimee's finest work--thoughtful, original lyrics set against highly melodic, catchy, almost Beatlesque rock. What strikes me about Bachelor #2 is how it stands up to repeated (and repeated) play. I buy a lot of music, and this is definitely one of my Top Ten of the last ten years or so. Take my word for it. If you like good music, you'll love Bachelor #2.
 Her songs exhibit an excellent voice who is betrayed by the quality of these songs. November 9, 2007
0 out of 6 found this review helpful
I am pretty sure that Ms. Mann considers her lyrics/songs on Bachelor No.2 to be profound and poetic, but in reality her songs are relentlessly repetitious and simplistically negative, not to mention virulently and bluntly anti-male. She really needs to listen to the songs of Mindy Smith and Patty Griffin to get a handle on how to write songs.
Ms. Mann has a lovely voice and her Christmas album is good and even brilliant at times. But this album buries emotions, truth, love, hate, sorrow, hurt etc under a mountain of negativity.
I understand that Ms. Mann has quite an assertive and strong personality who fights record companies and probably anyone else who disagrees with her. Nevertheless, she should take some advice and start singing songs written by other writers--her lovely voice is betrayed by the mediocrity of her own songs.
Aimee's Best Plus "Different" October 15, 2007
Aimee Mann has on a regular basis provided fantastic songs, but yet uneven albums. Despite being under the name of her former group, Til Tuesday, the album Everything's Different Now really was a solo album and is among the best break-up albums ever. Since then she has shun on occasions but the albums have often been lacking a few good tracks to be labeled as being great.
Bachelor no. 2 is an exception. From the very first tones on the first track, very Beatles like production, to the end of the record, there is not a single weak note. The production is mostly sparse but yet a sonic 3 dimension feel is still present. This may be due to the old fashioned stereo image used, something that has become maybe sort of a lost art.
The standout tracks for me are How Am I Different, Driving Sideways and Deathly. The other songs would in most cases, however, be standout tracks on other albums. I recommend this album and Everything's Different Now for anyone interested in Aimee Mann material, those albums simply do not disappoint.
Amazing album always changing September 22, 2007
This is a truly amazing record that just grows on you. Upon first listening my favorite track was How Am I Different. After awhile I liked Red Vines best and later Satellite.
Currently my favorite track is Ghost World, a song I put aside at first as trite. This album is always changing, evolving with each listen. Those of you not impressed on first listen or thinking this material is light weight or all sounds the same please give it a chance.
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