I'm with Stupid

• Artist: Aimee Mann
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1995 11
• Total Time: 52:59
• Genre: Rock

Review

From the opening of "Long Shot," with its rolling hip-hop-derived beat and its nonchalant profanity, it's clear that Aimee Mann is trying to appeal to a wider audience with her second solo album, I'm With Stupid. Taking her cues from Liz Phair and Beck, she adds alternative rock flourishes to her music but never abandons her love of the basic, three-minute pop single. Mann builds from the more pop-oriented songs on Whatever, incorporating her confessional singer/songwriter instincts into the pop songs while working with a more adventerous production and instrumentation. Occasionally, the fusion is a bit awkward, but the best moments on I'm With Stupid -- the sighing "Choice in the Matter," the nearly perfect "That's Just What You Are," featuring backing vocals by Glenn Tilbrook, and the Bernard Butler collaboration "Sugarcoated" -- surpass even the best moments on Whatever. However, I'm With Stupid falls short of matching Mann's debut for consistent song quality -- there are several tracks that are pleasant but simply don't lead anywhere. Nevertheless, the album confirms that she is a distinctive, talented songwriter. At her best, she is as capable of melding melody with intelligent lyrics as her idols Elvis Costello, Difford/Tilbrook, and Ray Davies. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Long Shot	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(3:13)
Choice in the Matter (Lyrics)	Jon Brion, Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(3:13)
Sugarcoated (Lyrics)	Aimee Mann, Bernard Butler	Aimee Mann	(3:39)
You Could Make a Killing	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(3:21)
Superball	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(3:05)
Amateur (Lyrics)	Jon Brion, Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(4:51)
All over Now	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(3:37)
Par for the Course	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(6:01)
You're with Stupid Now	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(3:27)
That's Just What You Are	Jon Brion, Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(4:22)
Frankenstein (Lyrics)	Jon Brion, Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(4:25)
Ray	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(4:47)
It's Not Safe	Aimee Mann	Aimee Mann	(4:58)

Credits

Stacy Jones (Guitar (Acoustic)), Clayton Scoble (Vocals (Background)), Jon Brion (Producer), Mike Denneen (Mixing), Aimee Mann (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jon Brion (Drums), Neil Innes (Vocals (Background)), Mad Hatter (Mixing), Jon Brion (Bass), Jon Brion (Mixing), Gail Marowitz (Art Direction), Jon Lupfer (Handclapping), Stacy Jones (Drums), Todd Burke (Engineer), Luke Gifford (Engineer), Aimee Mann (Guitar), Aimee Mann (Guitar (Electric)), Bernard Butler (Guitar), Mike Denneen (Engineer), Peter Linton (Guitar), Jon Lupfer (Engineer), Jon Brion (Bass Harmonica), Bernard Butler (Guitar (Electric)), Jon Brion (Guitar), Bernard Butler (Keyboards), Aimee Mann (Artwork), Aimee Mann (Design), Mike Denneen (Keyboards), Jon Brion (Keyboards), Jon Brion (Guitar (Electric)), Martyn Watson (Drum Loop), Glenn Tilbrook (Vocals (Background)), Jon Brion (Handclapping), Jon Brion (Harmonica), Glenn Tilbrook (Guitar), Aimee Mann (Bass), Jon Brion (Cello), Juliana Hatfield (Vocals (Background)), Kate Garner (Photography), Glenn Tilbrook (Vocals), Peter Linton (Vocals), Jonathan Wyner (Mastering), Michael Penn (Guitar), Glenn Tilbrook (Guitar (Electric)), Gail Marowitz (Design), Jon Brion (Guitar (Acoustic)), Aimee Mann (Handclapping), Chris Difford (Vocals (Background)), Clayton Scoble (Guitar), Stacy Jones (Bass), Aimee Mann (Vocals), Brad Hallen (Bass), Jack Joseph Puig (Mixing), Clayton Scoble (Guitar (Electric)), Jon Brion (Vocals (Background)), Michael Lockwood (Guitar), Chris Difford (Vocals), Jon Brion (Percussion), Aimee Mann (Guitar (Bass)), Robert Read (Mixing), John Sands (Drums)

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