Okay, dirty secret. Aimee Mann just does not do it for me--I can see the emails coming to me now (her fans are, well, `big` fans! If you are one of them, apologies already, okay?!). I totally `get`(and appereciate) why she does for many of her fans, though, but viscerally, just the my music-boat got no float with all her albums. Marykate O`Neil does it for me, big time and fans of Mann really do need to check her out as do even the most casual of pop fans that frequent this site. Co-produced exquisitely by Jill Sobule and Roger Moutendt(Yo La Tengo; Beulah; Joseph Arthur; Sleater Kinney), 1-800-Bankrupt delivers on all levels with 12 songs that bring to mind many happy thoughts: a female George Harrison, a Carole King in the Brill Building tradition, an Astrid Gilberto meets an Elvis Costello breeding experiement and a Capote-esque storyteller. And, yes, an Aimee Mann working it out with recent Kate Bush. Why big labels have not come calling is a mystery to anyone who does not work in this biz, but all we care about is that O`Neil writes great songs and interprets them with her style in a way that makes it all a keeper and challenges the ear. The songwriting here is classic O`Neil for fans of her previous releases(her last one, the self-titled one is highly recommended!), juxtaposing pure pop musical sensibility with narrative tales of everyday urban life; failed relationships; prescription filled nights; and days spent dreaming in a
cube. Bsides the talents of Jill Sobule, there`s a list of Grade-A
helpers to this great cause, Matthew Caws of Nada Surf, producer Brad Jones, Bill DeMain from Swan Dive, James Haggerty who plays with Josh Rouse and Joe Marc`s Brothers and Not Lame fave(well, all these folks are), Jim Boggia. Normally, a laundry-list of talent like this should be enough to `go for it` and, hopefully, it is. But listen on."O`Neil is a truly amazing songwriter. Her gift lies in the fact that her songs can be enjoyed at a superficial level as fun pop tunes with catchy hooks but can also be analyzed to show a much deeper meaning that is anything but "pop".- Northeast Performer. "1-800-Bankrupt expands on the sound that first brought Marykate all the great attention. The songwriting is both more intricate and grand in scale and the production and instrumentation is tightly wound. There are a number of tracks that will grab your attention from the first listen: "Stay," Susan Fingerle"," "Past All The Stars," "A.d.d" and "I Sleep With My Clothes On" are particularly striking and we can honestly say that this is a rare instance where everything simply "clicks." This album is pure magic from start to finish and we think it will leave a lasting impression in your mind. "-FilterMag. Grade: Solid, Black `n White "A".
 Remember The Year We Were Normal - mp3
Stay - mp3
Things Are Too Good - mp3
Past All The Stars - mp3
Since You`ve Been Away - mp3 | 
