Music
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best of 2009
Best of 2008
Best of 2007
Best of 2006
Best of 2005
Best of 2004
Best of 2003
Best of 2002
Best of 2001
Best of 2000
Best of the Decade
Upcoming &
Recent Releases
75
2562
54
30 Seconds to Mars
62
50 Cent
71
AC/DC
70
The Album Leaf
52
Kris Allen
68
Tori Amos
66
Animal Collective
84
Animal Collective
77
Annie
57
Apse
63
Asobi Seksu
59
Bad Lieutenant
83
Julianna Barwick
82
Beach House
72
Beak>
72
Bibio
65
Justin Bieber
76
Biffy Clyro
74
Blakroc
75
Mary J. Blige
78
Blockhead
52
Bon Jovi
54
Susan Boyle
57
The Bravery
39
Chris Brown
64
V.V. Brown
70
Basia Bulat
79
Chew Lips
74
Citay
65
Clipse
66
Cold War Kids
75
The Cribs
58
Dashboard Confessional
81
Dave Rawlings Machine
70
Delphic
78
The Doors
58
Echo & The Bunnymen
73
Edan
59
Editors
69
Eels
80
Felt
74
First Aid Kit
69
Flyleaf
83
Four Tet
82
Ben Frost
82
Fucked Up
83
Charlotte Gainsbourg
63
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
68
Githead
65
Joe Goddard
58
Good Shoes
72
Gucci Mane
75
Holopaw
82
Jesca Hoop
79
Hot Chip
72
The Hot Rats
88
Ray Wylie Hubbard
54
Hurricane Chris
66
Allison Iraheta
59
Jay Sean
82
Freedy Johnston
57
Nick Jonas And The Administration
73
Norah Jones
49
Juvenile
58
Ke$ha
62
R. Kelly
66
Alicia Keys
68
Kid Sister
81
King Midas Sound
63
Lady Antebellum
76
Lady GaGa
71
Adam Lambert
78
Lawrence Arabia
61
Leona Lewis
74
Lightspeed Champion
36
Lil Wayne
82
Lindstrom & Christabelle
77
Lissie
78
Los Campesinos!
70
Lostprophets
73
Magnetic Fields
72
Massive Attack
64
John Mayer
71
Paul McCartney
58
Katherine McPhee
86
Memory Tapes
72
Midlake
88
Motion City Soundtrack
63
Mr. Hudson
53
Mudvayne
75
Oh No Ono
70
OK Go
72
Ola Podrida
61
OneRepublic
80
Owen Pallett
80
Pantha du Prince
90
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
80
Phantogram
60
Pit Er Pat
63
Priestess
70
Radian
79
Corinne Bailey Rae
54
Rakim
79
Real Estate
77
Retribution Gospel Choir
76
Rihanna
64
Rjd2
65
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
77
Sade
77
Gil Scott-Heron
72
Shakira
82
Shining
61
Snoop Dogg
62
Snow Patrol
71
The Soft Pack
80
Spoon
64
Ringo Starr
59
Stereophonics
76
Angie Stone
79
Surfer Blood
74
Switchfoot
75
Them Crooked Vultures
74
Robin Thicke
50
Timbaland
79
tUnE-YaRDs
80
Vampire Weekend
79
Laura Veirs
79
Tom Waits
78
Wale
65
The Watson Twins
66
Kanye West
76
The Whitefield Brothers
64
Robbie Williams
80
Yeasayer
62
Young Money
75
Neil Young
61
Rob Zombie
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Bachelor No. 2 (or, the last remains of the dodo)
Universal acclaim
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 19 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: SuperEgo
Release Date: 02 May 2000
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock, Pop, Alternative
Summary
The third solo release from the former 'Til Tuesday leader finally made it to record stores in May 2000, after a long journey that saw Interscope refuse to release the album and Mann issue it on her own SuperEgo label (after selling it through mail order and at her live performances). All's well that ends well, though, as Mann gained widespread acclaim for her soundtrack to P.T. Anderson's film "Magnolia" and even better reviews for this album, which contains four of the tracks from the soundtrack as well as nine additional songs.
Also By This Artist: @#%&*! Smilers Lost In Space The Forgotten Arm
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
All Music Guide
To call Bachelor No. 2 a masterpiece may be overstating the matter somewhat, since an album this intimate and unassuming (but not unconfident) doesn't call attention to itself the way self-styled masterpieces do. However, it isn't hyperbole to call it the finest record Mann has made to date.
Read Full Review >Wall of Sound
Bachelor No. 2 makes good on the promise hinted at by Mann's work on the Magnolia soundtrack. In her mastery of sophisticated melodies and sly turns-of-phrase, Mann brings to mind a number of heralded composers.
Read Full Review >Mojo
Choosing favourites is almost futile with so much scintillating brilliance on offer.
Read Full Review >Sonicnet
On the evidence of her work here, one would have to say there really isn't any pop-rock composer writing more sophisticated material these days than Mann.
Read Full Review >Trouser Press
The only complaint to be lodged against Bachelor No. 2, other than its partially duplicated track listing, is the mid-tempo groove from which Mann rarely extricates herself.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
Yet again, Mann's songs concentrate on life gone wrong - but this is timeless stuff.
Read Full Review >Spin
A soundtrack nuanced enough for the rippling wit of Mann's lyrics.... These songs are layered and soft-spoken, to be sure, but also confident and rewarding of multiple listens. They are the sound of Aimee Mann growing as a songwriter. Yet the album also features the sound of Aimee Mann grousing about being a songwriter.
Read Full Review >Nude As The News
She retains her unique quality to marry upbeat, elegant melodies to witty lyrics that exhibit a disenchanted but honest take on life and love.
Read Full Review >CDNow
What dignifies her from the pack is her ability to blend accessible and likeable arrangements with messages that are simultaneously straightforward and enigmatic, jovial and pained.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
shaneequa j gave it a10:
It's just a brilliant pop album. Hands down.
Sam D gave it a10:
more pop than i would have liked, but most of the songs are incredible and aimee puts forth above average lyrics yet again
levvy gave it a9:
A fantastic album. Fave track: Backfire/You Do
rg gave it a10:
A gem. Truly a classic. Highly recommended.
Austin A gave it a10:
Perfect in every way imaginable.
Adam K gave it a10:
Nobody does it better than Mrs. Mann. Her pop craftsmanship is startingly beautiful and honest.
Michelle S. gave it a10:
A classic. Even though some of the songs on this album overlap the "Magnolia" soundtrack, I recommend buying both to fully appreciate the works of both Mann and Jon Brion.
