Search - Aimee Mann :: Lost in Space (Spec)

Glorious but unnecessary repackage

Gareth Davies-Morris | San Diego, CA USA | 05/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fans already know that Aimee Mann is a rare bird as a songwriter and that Lost In Space is a terrific record running a bare step behind her superb Bachelor #2. Therefore, I'll limit my comments to the repackage itself. If you don't already own the album, this is the way to get it, but if you bought the earlier limited release, you have the right to be a mite annoyed. The book-style package of this "new" Lost In Space is attractively sturdy but simply upgrades the original comic/lyric booklet into a heavy cardboard format and includes no new pictures or information. The second disc is a fine live set with 2 new studio tracks plus the 2 rare cuts that filled out the bonus single from the first version. Therefore, the new disc released by itself would have made a perfect website offering for fans who didn't want to buy the whole thing again."

Worthwhile buying again

Mr. B. G. Fowler | 01/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've already reviewed the original Lost In Space, so I won't bother reviewing the first disc again. The second disc provides some live versions of the tracks, all of which have a little something extra to make them definitely worth the listen. In particular, the live version of the haunting Invisible Ink is brilliant, especially with the crowd participation at the end. The two B-sides, most big Aimee Mann fans will already have heard. Backfire is actually included on the UK tracklisting to Bachelor No. 2, so I heard that one a long way back but this version is subtly different. To anyone who doesn't already own it, for me it was one of Bachelor's best tracks. Nightmare Girl I managed to find on the Internet, with Aimee Mann singles being incredibly hard to find here in the UK. This was another track that was originally slated to appear on Bachelor but would've made the tracklisting too long. It's great to see it here, and it's co-written by Aimee's husband Michael Penn. The two unreleased tracks are good too, both faster-paced songs that would easily fit on Lost In Space, but both hiding a distinctly depressive edge. Fighting The Stall seems to be about escaping from life by going off the rails, mirroring perfectly the themes of addiction that run through the record. Observatory is fantastic, observing how people deny love when they have it and even when they lose it in an attempt at self-preservation. The fact that the song doesn't sound depressing unless you're following the lyrics is another testament to the subtlety of the lyrics. The second disc is closed by a live version of the first disc's closer, It's Not. For me this even rivals Wise Up as Aimee's saddest song. The live performance is uniformly brilliant and Aimee's live vocals add even more depth to it.I received this special edition for Christmas last year and it was one of the best CDs I received that year. For those who know who Aimee Mann is, this is a must-have in your collection."

OUTSTANDING!

Invisiboy2001 | Chicago, IL United States | 12/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD set contains the original "Lost In Space" album and an extra disc of wonderful live songs and a handful of non-album studio tracks. The album portion focuses on relationships and the addictions that derive from them. From the slow sinking of "Humpty Dumpty" to final stab of "It's Not," Mann paints deconstructive portraits of love and the disillusionments that come along for the ride. This is one of those rare CDs on which every song is beautifully written, sung and recorded. Aimee Mann is a true artist and a perfectionist, so the quality of this record is undeniable.



The bonus disc features wonderful live versions of "The Moth," "Real Bad News" and three other songs from the album proper. Another great live track is "The Scientist," which has yet to appear on any of Mann's studio albums. The four non-album studio tracks are pure, terrific Aimee Mann. Though "Backfire" and "Fighting The Stall" sound more like late 'Til Tuesday records than current Aimee Mann recordings, they are still satisfying listening.



The packaging on this CD set is ultra-high quality! It is designed like a hardcover book, with CDs at the beginning and end. Brilliant! And the artwork throughout is a treat as well.



My advice is if you don't already own this CD, BUY THIS VERSION. And if you already have the original release, you may want to buy this one also and pass your old copy to a friend (that's what I did). More people need to experience the musical brilliance that is Aimee Mann."