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EDIT INFOMichael Penn - Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947
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Album Details
- Artist: Michael Penn
- Album: Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947
- Label: Mimeograph
- Year of Release: 2005
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: patchen on 2006-01-03
RecommendMichael Penn's fifth record and first since 2000 brims with smarts and quirkiness just below the level of profound smarts and quirkiness. Don't think Leonard Cohen, think Stan Ridgeway, and you'll dig this one. This is a concept record, set in post-World War II L.A.. While the story is retro, the musical ideas are not. Nor are the lyrics; though set in 1947, the anxiety and melancholy are timeless. Edgy pop ("On Automatic") mingles with sad ballads ("Television Set Waltz") with the slightly dirge-y ("Mary Lynn"). While ambitious, Penn doesn't aim for big statements here. His game is to hunt for the little impressionist moments that sting and perplex anyone who lives through something traumatic. Sad, moody, and cautious, these songs reflect the veterans and wives they celebrate.
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