While Lost in Space was an unofficial concept album, Aimee Mann’s next release, 2005’s The Forgotten Arm, was the real deal. Set in the 1970s, it’s the story of an alcoholic boxer and Vietnam vet, John, and the woman he loves, Caroline. The songs track their ups and downs and explore the destructive nature of alcoholism on a relationship.
The album’s packaging is particularly lovely, the song lyrics presented in chapter form alongside beautiful colored sketches of John and Caroline. And though the songs are traditionally structured, the lyrics are written out as prose. Regardless of sound, this is one of the best looking CDs in my collection.
But the music is just as impressive. The evolution of Mann’s sound continued with The Forgotten Arm, moving toward a more piano-based, earthy sound without abandoning the elegant production of her previous work. This album finds her more confident than ever in her songwriting and, though the songs are best heard alongside one another, this is some of her best work.
‘Little Bombs’ was the first song from this album to leap out at me and it remains one of my favorites. I love how it’s quite busy musically — with layers of atmospheric percussion, a propulsive acoustic guitar and the piano and electric guitar trading off accent notes — but somehow feels achingly intimate. And I love the metaphor of a person’s life as an unexploded shell.
Speaking of metaphors, the album’s title is a boxing reference to the punch an opponent holds back until it’s least expected. This album is about dealing with the forgotten arm of life, laying in wait to deliver that knockout blow.
Looking out the picture window down on Sycamore.
While perspective lines converge, rows of cars and buses merge.
All the sweet green trees of Atlanta burst like little bombs,
Or little pom-poms shaken by a careless hand that dries them off
And leaves again.
Life just kind of empties out, less a deluge than a drought.
Less a giant mushroom cloud than an unexploded shell
Inside a cell of the Lennox Hotel.
On the 22nd floor, found a notice on my door.
While outside the sun is shining on those little bombs,
Those little pom-poms.
Life just kind of empties out, less a deluge than a drought.
Less a giant mushroom cloud than an unexploded shell
Inside a cell of the Lennox Hotel
Meet Me In Montauk 
With this song, you can kind of hear the songwriting compatibility of Mann and Elvis Costello. I could see Elvis writing this song and can almost hear his voice as it plays. That, of course, is a compliment to Mann as I consider Costello one of the best songwriters in the business.
Speaking of which, did you see Stephen Colbert singing ‘Cheap Reward’ with Elvis on The Colbert Report? That was great.
Wow. Now this one I’m loving. I may have found the Aimee Mann I like best. I want to hear about John and Caroline. Her sameness probably works for a concept album such as this one, as you are ready to follow the arc of these characters’ lives and having something cohesive that links one “chapter” to the next is essential.
I love this song, as I’m listening to it for the first time. I definitely want to hear more of this album. In fact, I’m feeling a little guilty for not starting the story from the beginning 🙂
Yes, that Colbert really has quite the voice.