Although I can't say I'm a full-on convert, I have been an impressed partial supporter. It has nothing to do with her cover song choices, most of which are uniformly impressive. It's because she really sees the big career picture and is willing to take more difficult paths.
Her contemporaries found it necessary to trend-hop and tease. Even the generation following her, the High School Musical set, seem hell bent on fostering a queasy sexual identity than a work resume. It strikes me a lot like Aimee Mann who could have gone all Madonna on us but strove for musicality over persona surgery. If there is any young performer who could rise above and become something more (no pun intended,) it is Mandy.
JohnHughes
· 1 year ago
Anyone else having issues with the downloads?
Joe
· 1 year ago
Yup. Shame, as the coverof "Umbrella" is really good.
DavidMedsker
· 1 year ago
Whatever she does from here, Mandy will forever be in my cool book for the Rundgren and XTC covers. Great, great stuff.
WHarrisBullzEye
· 1 year ago
You may have ignored "A Walk to Remember," but if you enjoy her covers, you might want to hunt down her duet with Jonathan Foreman of Switchfoot on New Radicals' "Someday We'll Know," which appears on the film's soundtrack. It's not as good as Hall & Oates' take on the song, which features a guest appearance from Todd Rundgren, but it's still worth hearing. (The soundtrack also includes Toploader's cover of "Dancing in the Moonlight," which is a really fun track.)
Zack
· 1 year ago
I've only watched Southland Tales once (with the expectation of writing up the Elbow song "Forget Myself" for a MPS column - and it turns out it's not in the goddamned movie!) and I agree, she was splendid. Shame about the mp3's, I'm very curious to hear her Waterboys cover.
jefito
· 1 year ago
I believe the downloads have been fixed.
retroDan
· 1 year ago
Mandy's version of Rundgren's Can We Still be Friends is probably the best cover version of that song. ever. even beats out Rundgren's own lounge-version (With a Twist) of the song. :)
CarlosRamirez
· 1 year ago
I have always said that "I Wanna Be With You" is a GREAT single so it was a very nice surprise seeing it mentioned here!
J. D. Beedy
· 1 year ago
Let me begin by saying your a very, very talented writer. But, I'm sure you've heard that a million times. I believe you've encapsulated Moore's career very accurately in just a few paragraphs (not an easy feat, at least for this 9-year follower of Moore's career).
The only part of your post I don't happen to agree with is:
But sometimes you happen upon an artist whose work gnaws away at you, even though you know it’s not all that great — maybe because you can respect the intention behind it, or maybe because you can spot a glimmer of greatness buried in what’s really only a pretty-good vocal. And sometimes you just want to cut an artist some slack.
However, that's simply because I happen to think her voice, her musical directions, etc. are the best of my generation. ;)
Great, great post overall, Mr. Cummings!
Much love and happiness,
~mandysboi
JonCummings
· 1 year ago
That's very nice of you to say--about me and about Mandy. I'm not sure I agree with you completely on either count, but I do believe that if Mandy gets the right musical support and guidance, she could definitely take it up several more notches. She's very talented, she obviously has vision and ambition--now let's see if she can become truly important.
Beau
· 1 year ago
Her role in "Saved" should give her some cred for years to come.
Bastard No. 1
· 1 year ago
I've always loved "Drop The Pilot" and her cover is great - but not nearly as good as "Umbrella". She put a fascinating twist on it and it turned out excellent.
As a regular rule, I'm not a big fan of female singers, but I think Mandy is quite talented. Coverage was a very important album for her career even if it didn't sell. Before that I lumped her in with Britney, Hilary etc...BS crap bubblegum. Coverage took her out of that genre for me.
Wild Hope is a very good album. She needs to get the right label and get some push for her though - I listened again to the two MP3s that you've posted from Wild Hope and I can absolutely see her as the female equivalent of John Mayer down the road. Seems she's starting to earn some respect as a musician, but now someone needs to buy her music or get her to open up for John Mayer!
WHarrisBullzEye
· 1 year ago
I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I'd never heard "Drop the Pilot" until I heard Mandy's version. It did, however, inspire me to check out Joan Armatrading, so I guess it did its job!
Rich
· 1 year ago
That's pretty impressive. I've had the feeling for a while that there's more to Mandy than just the usual teeny pop girl singer thing. I remember a while back, reading some article that smirked (in typical internet cheap shot fashion) at her covering Joan Armatrading, XTC, Waterboys, etc. But you're right: if her covers inspire younger music listeners to check out these artists, then there's certainly nothing bad about that. Plus, that version of Whole Of The Moon is pretty damn cool. I'd have preferred the production to be a little more sparse, but her voice sounds very strong and emotive. I say, more power to her.
jeff
· 1 year ago
mandy moore is a cute. really cute. that is why i would pay even a moment of attention to her. and let's not forget her two or three appearances on 'scrubs.' she was very funny - and cute - in those episodes. i'm tempted to download a song here, but... i just don't know.
JonCummings
· 1 year ago
My son, at age 4, used to sing a song to us when he wanted us to sample some gross concoction he'd created: "Just give it a try, give it a try...Just give it a try, there's nothing to buy..."
C'mon Jeff. Look at Mandy's picture. Read all these comments. Trust me. Click that download button. C'mon. Do it.
Clark
· 1 year ago
Always liked her too. I cried in Walk to Remember, which I should me mercilessly tortured for doing/admitting.
JohnHughes
· 1 year ago
Every fiber of my '80s-fixated being wants to hate the "Senses Working Overtime" cover with all the hippity-hoppity scratching, but I'll be damned if all three of her covers aren't quite fantastic.
SteveC
· 1 year ago
As a huge Joan Armatrading apologist, I was really really really really apprehensive in clicking that button above...and...I must say Mandy does not suck.
But, to me, there's something a little, um, unsubstantial about her music. I can't put my finger on it. She's definitely got some chops, but her songs are like a cool breeze on a hot day, nice while they last, but easily forgotten.
All Comments
Her contemporaries found it necessary to trend-hop and tease. Even the generation following her, the High School Musical set, seem hell bent on fostering a queasy sexual identity than a work resume. It strikes me a lot like Aimee Mann who could have gone all Madonna on us but strove for musicality over persona surgery. If there is any young performer who could rise above and become something more (no pun intended,) it is Mandy.
The only part of your post I don't happen to agree with is:
But sometimes you happen upon an artist whose work gnaws away at you, even though you know it’s not all that great — maybe because you can respect the intention behind it, or maybe because you can spot a glimmer of greatness buried in what’s really only a pretty-good vocal. And sometimes you just want to cut an artist some slack.
However, that's simply because I happen to think her voice, her musical directions, etc. are the best of my generation. ;)
Great, great post overall, Mr. Cummings!
Much love and happiness,
~mandysboi
As a regular rule, I'm not a big fan of female singers, but I think Mandy is quite talented. Coverage was a very important album for her career even if it didn't sell. Before that I lumped her in with Britney, Hilary etc...BS crap bubblegum. Coverage took her out of that genre for me.
Wild Hope is a very good album. She needs to get the right label and get some push for her though - I listened again to the two MP3s that you've posted from Wild Hope and I can absolutely see her as the female equivalent of John Mayer down the road. Seems she's starting to earn some respect as a musician, but now someone needs to buy her music or get her to open up for John Mayer!
C'mon Jeff. Look at Mandy's picture. Read all these comments. Trust me. Click that download button. C'mon. Do it.
But, to me, there's something a little, um, unsubstantial about her music. I can't put my finger on it. She's definitely got some chops, but her songs are like a cool breeze on a hot day, nice while they last, but easily forgotten.
Sorry...