I’m not sure what I was doing when the Gilmore Girls series began in 2000, but somehow it slipped by me until now. 2009. Well, actually I started watching it late last year. I was still living in the States when it first aired in 2000, but it’s funny to be so taken with the show and its characters now, here in England. Luckily E4 has been airing the shows everyday and it’s become a favorite past-time of mine. It’s too bad the series ended in 2007.

The whole Gilmore family cracks me up. Lorelai, played by Lauren Graham, is full of jokes and her close relationship with daughter Rory (Alexis Bledel) is touching. Lorelai’s parents, Emily and Richard Gilmore, played by the wonderful Kelly Bishop and Edward Herrmann, are unmissable, as is the often sourly but lovable Luke (Scott Patterson). The quirky residents of the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut are hilarious – characters that keep the show interesting and special.

Which leads me into the musical aspect of Gilmore Girls. Carole King sings the catchy theme song “Where You Lead” with her daughter Louise Goffin. That in itself is a treat. The song was originally recorded in 1971 and each time that it’s played on the show I enjoy hearing it, and haven’t gotten sick of it yet!

Not only the theme song though, but most episodes have mentions of bands – whether it’s the musical Lane (Keiko Agena) with her stashed CDs hidden in her bedroom under the floorboards in sections by genre; a Bangles concert attended by the Gilmore girls and friends; or current bands of the time being played during certain scenes, it’s fun listening out for band references and the ‘background’ music. The show gets even better when the rock band comes to fruition, and Sebastian Bach guest stars. Brilliant.

The episode that aired today was the one with the Stars Hollow Firelight Festival, and the Stars Hollow busker/Troubadour AKA Grant-Lee Phillips (Grant Lee Buffalo) was playing the Grant Lee Buffalo song, “Mockingbirds”.

Watch “Mockingbirds” video:

I hadn’t heard that song in a long time, and actually, had no idea that it was a Grant Lee Buffalo track until I looked it up now. I really like that song, and it just goes to show how great a platform Gilmore Girls was for music and artists – and continues to showcase music now in syndication, with shows still being broadcast around the world.

Gilmore Girls on amazon.com

Gilmore Girls on amazon.co.uk

Grant Lee Buffalo Official Website

Gilmore Girls – Wikipedia

By: Jenny May – BandWeblogs.com

Aimee Mann’s seventh solo release to date, ‘@#%&! Smilers’, is a return to form after the artistic detours of 2005’s concept album ‘The Forgotten Arm’ and 2006’s Christmas CD ‘One More Drifter in the Snow’. ‘@#%&! Smilers’ is set for release June 3, 2008 on SuperEgo Records.

Featuring 13 new original songs, producer Paul Bryan describes the record as “deceptively powerful…very rich and grand sounding”.

The songs range from the stripped-down-to-basics of “Columbus Avenue”, to the almost Cars-esque synth-pop of “Freeway”, along side the classic Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell-era “Phoenix”, and the hushed creepiness of “Little Tornado.” The final song “Ballantines” is a duet with Sean Hayes complete with barroom piano and trombone section.

Aimee Mann download – “Thirty One Today” MP3

All of the songs were penned by Mann, with the exception of “True Believer”, co-written with fellow singer-songwriter Grant Lee Phillips.

An amalgamation of sounds, Aimee explains “we tried not to echo any previous albums…for this one we wanted to use a different palate, thus replacing electric guitars with distorted Wurlitzers, Clavinets, and analog synthesizers. We made the low end and rhythm section full and organic-sounding, with Jay Bellrose’s quirky approach to percussion and my acoustic guitar together. For this album the acoustic guitar is present in a new way, one that melds with Jay’s rhythm section and acts as an adjunct to the high-hat. On top of that we layered detailed interwoven keyboards and on select songs added a lush string section; on others a full horn section.”

The album was recorded in the latter part of 2007 at the Sound Factory studios in Los Angeles, engineered by Ryan Freeland and mastered by Gavin Lurssen.

After finishing off 2007 with her critically acclaimed sold-out Christmas tour, Aimee will return to the road in support of ‘Smilers’ this Spring and Summer 2008, including a stop at Bonnaroo.

Look for upcoming appearances on NPR – All Things Considered and the Ovation channel – Live from the Artist’s Den performance series, amongst others.

Aimee Mann 2008 tour dates:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Aimee Mann’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

June 2008

June 2 Los Angeles, CA Largo
June 6 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
June 10 Los Angeles, CA Largo
June 12 Minneapolis, MN Minneapolis Zoo
June 13 Milwaukee WI Pabst Theater
June 15 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music Festival

July 2008

July 9 Boulder, CO Chautauqua Auditorium
July 11 Denver, CO Denver Botanical Gardens
July 12 Park City, UT Deer Valley Resort
July 14 Saratoga, CA Mountain Winery
July 15 Rosebud, OR Stewart Park
July 16 Seattle, WA Seattle Zoo
July 24 Calgary, Alberta Calgary Music Festival

@#%&! Smilers on amazon.com

Aimee Mann on Myspace
Aimee Mann Official Website