Her most famous song, \u201cSave Me,\u201d after all \u2014 from the film \u201cMagnolia\u201d \u2014 opens with the line, \u201cYou look like the perfect fit for a girl in need of a tourniquet.\u201d Mann\u2019s last album, \u201cCharmer\u201d (2012), featured a song called \u201cCrazytown,\u201d which she described as a place \u201cwhere craziness gets handed down\/ Who? whoever\u2019s gonna volunteer\/ Will only end up living here.\u201d
On Tuesday, Mann announced her ninth studio album, and its title portends further darkness. Called \u201cMental Illness,\u201d it features 11 songs on which the artist plumbs the depths, and will arrive on March 31 on Mann\u2019s own SuperEgo imprint. As a teaser, she released the album\u2019s first song, \u201cGoose Snow Cone.\u201d
But those wondering on the artist\u2019s mental health can relax. Mann, whose wry lyrical wit is evident across her acclaimed catalog, devoted herself to writing grim weepers as a reaction to those who think she writes only depressing songs, she wrote in announcing the record.
\u201cSo if they thought that my songs were very down-tempo, very depressing, very sad, and very acoustic, I thought I\u2019d just give myself permission to write the saddest, slowest, most acoustic, if-they\u2019re-all-waltzes-so-be-it record I could,\u201d she said.
Added Mann: \u201cI mean, calling it \u2018Mental Illness\u2019 makes me laugh, because it is true, but it\u2019s so blunt that it\u2019s funny.\u201d
Mann also announced that she will tour in support of \u201cMental Illness.\u201d Beginning April 20 in Washington, D. C., she\u2019ll make her way up the Eastern seaboard before heading west for a dozen gigs, culminating with a homecoming at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. Mann has the full tour itinerary at her website.
Produced, as usual, by Paul Bryan (who\u2019s also Mann\u2019s touring bassist), \u201cMental Illness\u201d also features musicians including Jonathan Coulton, Jay Bellerose on drums and Jamie Edwards on piano. Singer\/songwriter Ted Leo, who makes music with Mann as the Both, also contributes.
\u201cGoose Snow Cone\u201d
\u201cStuck in the Past\u201d
\u201cYou Never Loved Me\u201d
\u201cRollercoasters\u201d
\u201cLies of Summer\u201d
\u201cPatient Zero\u201d
\u201cGood For Me\u201d
\u201cKnock It Off\u201d
\u201cPhilly Sinks\u201d
\u201cSimple Fix\u201d
\u201cPoor Judge\u201d
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«Manchester By the Sea» director Kenneth Lonergan discusses writing a quiet character and working with actor Casey Affleck to bring him to life.<\/p>\n