Aimee Mann

Aimee Mann has made several unusual but ultimately inspired moves in her career, including writing the stunning soundtrack to the film Magnolia and co-founding United Musicians, an organization that allows artists to retain copyright ownership of their work. Musically, with her smoky jazz voice and sharp, melodic pop sensibilities, she can hardly do wrong with her new record, The Forgotten Arm. This one’s a concept album, telling the story of two lovers, one of which is a Vietnam vet on a road trip across America in the 1970s. Mann’s familiar themes of addiction and broken relationships make wrenching yet cathartic appearances in these songs.