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As we walk past the "Department of Communication Science" at UConn (guest scriner: Lloyd) << home >> a co-worker's lament
TAGS: What the deuce? No tags?
Dear God: What did I do to so offend that you’ve arranged for me to go to the free Mandy Moore concert this evening?
August 16, 2007 at 12:42 PM ::
I imagine if God were to reply, it might go something like this:
Dear ‘mouse:
What did I do to so offend that you humans have allowed the sound of Mandy Moore to become popular enough that such a concert is even possible? While we’re on the subject, I should also ask you to explain not only Mandy Moore music, but Mandy Moore movies. Are humans so addicted to over-priced popcorn that they’ll put up with anything? I wish I had more time to explain things to you, but I still have my hands full cleaning up the Bryan Adams mess.
Keith on 08/16/07 at 02:45 PM ::
I will wait, of course, to withhold judgment until ‘mouse gives us his own impressions of the concert, but I actually come to defend Mandy Moore on two counts: At the beginning of her career, she did indeed seem to be on the Britney Spears/Jessica Simpson axis of pop disposability, but then she cut a cover album that showed terrific taste in source material: XTC’s “Senses Working Overtime,” Joan Armatrading’s “Drop the Pilot,” Elton John’s “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” (you just know that if this were Britney’s album, or Jessica’s, they’d be covering “Candle in the Wind” and chewing the f’ing scenery all over the place), and the much-beloved-by-me “Whole of the Moon,” written and performed by the fabulous Mike Scott and the Waterboys.
For this reason alone, I’d be willing to give Mandy Moore a pass that I wouldn’t give most teen-friendly pop divas, but she has also become a decent comic actress, and based on her work in Saved!, she has a real future in dark and/or screwball comedy. (Saved! is a sweet, gentle surprise of a movie, but it has its fierce moments, and my favorite one is of Mandy Moore whomping a bible at Jena Malone and snarling, “I am FILLED with Christ’s love!”) If she continues to make smart movie/music choices, she could really be someone to watch—and not in the tabloid trainwreck sense, either.
Of course, ‘mouse, if you report that the whole endeavor made your head bleed, then I invite you to disregard at will. :)
bakerina on 08/17/07 at 05:45 AM ::
Well, let me say, she seemed nice enough. However, there were problems. The two warm up bands came out and rocked. Loud. The first was nothing special musically, but had heart. The second, a band named MIGS did a competent music-in-the-park performance. Did I mention loud and rocking? Then Mandy came on and did slower songs with (slightly) more content than she’s usually given credit for. But the jackass controlling the soundboard turned the volume way down just as the crowd doubled in size. An outdoor concert is not a little jazz club.
Oh, and the stage was way to low and the crowd pretty much what you’d expect to round up in an urban downtown for a free concert. After a couple songs the kids were bored and asked to go home. So much for my hopes for silly, high-energy, danceable pop music.
In sum, my review is, go ahead and see Mandy in a small venue and Mandy, good luck with this transition to a more mature sound. It really is a fine sound for you. Oh, and fire the sound guy and whoever’s booking high-energy warm-up bands if you’re not going to come out and rock the place.
'mouse on 08/17/07 at 10:28 AM ::
I found a copy of the newest Mandy Moore album just now, so I’ll throw it up (hehe, no pun intended) on Scrinetunes so we can all pretend to get bored in the park with ‘mouse.
Keith on 08/17/07 at 11:29 AM ::
Let me be the first to offer my most humble apologies, as I believe I was confusing the delightful Mandy Moore with the much more austere, Sir Thomas More, who I’m sure was not much of a pop singer at all.
In all fairness, there is not a thing wrong with the title track, Wild Hope from her latest album.
For a very short time, you might find a copy of that album here.
Keith on 08/17/07 at 01:07 PM ::
A few things:
1) Weird. Her name came up last night in a preview on the DVD I was watching. She’s in “Because I Said So” and elder-‘mousedaughter and I said, simultaneously, “That’s Mandy Moore… She got pretty!”
2) How the heck did I manage to get two years older since I posted this?
<strike>3) Keith, how did you miss the release of Her new album Amanda Leigh on May 26, 2009. I want to hear it.</strike>
Edit: Never mind #3. I found it on Myspace. I want that 15 minutes of my musical life back.
'mouse on 07/01/09 at 02:02 PM ::
Too late on #3. I’m downloading it right now.
Keith on 07/01/09 at 07:50 PM ::