Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
It's been five years since Michael Penn delivered MP4: Days Since a Lost Time Accident, a complex yet radio-ready ode to the passing millennium that put the nail in the coffin of his tempestuous relationship with major labels. Epic's support for the record was mediocre at best, so Penn took the logical next step and started his own imprint, Mimeograph. The resulting Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947, released via spinART, is a loosely constructed song cycle concerning post-World War II Los Angeles. Like fellow singer/songwriter (and Penn's wife) Aimee Mann, who released her own conceptual record earlier in the year (The Forgotten Arm), Penn forgoes the traditional narrative and sticks to what he does best, writing biting and beautiful songs about relationships that are failing, have failed, or are suspiciously working. He lets the year's historical events (the invention of the portable radio, the establishment of the national Department of Defense, a plague of UFO sightings, etc.) wrap his characters in the kind of sepia-tone strokes of nostalgic Hollywood gossamer that would make both Frank Capra and Tom Waits proud. In fact, Penn's slick Tin Pan Alley mini-orchestra (due largely in part to frequent collaborator Patrick Warren's orchestral samples) resembles Rain Dogs-era Waits had he brought Jon Brion on board to produce. When it works, like on the rousing, sentimental opener "Walter Reed," "On Automatic," and "Mary Lynn," Penn knocks the ball into the bleachers, but there's an overflow of midtempo pieces about halfway through that brings the record to a standstill. While songs like "A Bad Sign" and "You Know How" are textbook Penn, they suck the air out of the room, leaving the listener feeling like a winded old police chief who let the bad guys get away. Penn's lyrical spirit of adventure is mirrored by the album's production rather than the songs themselves, a disappointment for fans of past works like "Cover Up," "Drained," "Footdown," and "Battle Room." Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947 is by no means a bad record; in fact, half of it is better than previous offerings altogether. That Penn is better than some of these songs only reflects the high standards he continues to set for both himself and his very patient fans. Let's hope that another five years doesn't go by before he raises the bar again. [Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947 was reissued in 2007 with a bonus disc that featured six tracks recorded live at KCRW, as well as the video for the album's single "Walter Reed."].
© James Christopher Monger /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr124,99/month
Buddy Judge, Background Vocal - Danny Frankel, Drums - Dave Palmer, Piano - Julian Coryell, Slide Guitar - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer - Patrick Warren, Piano
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Background Vocal - Danny Frankel, Drums - Jebin Bruni, Piano - Michael Bland, Drums - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer - Sheldon Gomberg, Acoustic Bass
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Background Vocal - Dave Palmer, Piano - Justin "Dusty" Rocherolle, Drums - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Background Vocal - Danny Frankel, Drums - Gary Louris, Background Vocal - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer - Patrick Warren, Brass
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Aimee Mann, Performer - Buddy Judge, Performer - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Aimee Mann, Acoustic Bass - Danny Frankel, Drums - Dave Palmer, Piano - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Aimee Mann, Acoustic Bass - Buddy Judge, Background Vocal - Danny Frankel, Drums - Gary Louris, Background Vocal - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer - Patrick Warren, Performer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Aimee Mann, Acoustic Bass - Buddy Judge, Background Vocal - Danny Frankel, Drums - Jebin Bruni, Piano - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer - Patrick Warren, Piano
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Guitar - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Producer - Michael Penn, Vocal
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Background Vocal - Jebin Bruni, Piano - Justin "Dusty" Rocherolle, Drums - Michael Penn, Acoustic Bass - Michael Penn, Arranger - Michael Penn, Engineer - Michael Penn, Guitar - Michael Penn, Keyboards - Michael Penn, Performer - Michael Penn, Vocal - Traditional, Composer - Traditional, Lyricist
(P) 2005 Mimeograph Records
DISC 2
Buddy Judge, Performer - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Peter Adams, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Performer - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Peter Adams, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Performer - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Peter Adams, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Performer - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Peter Adams, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Performer - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Peter Adams, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Mimeograph Records
Buddy Judge, Performer - Michael Penn, Composer - Michael Penn, Lyricist - Michael Penn, Performer - Peter Adams, Keyboards
(P) 2007 Mimeograph Records
Album review
It's been five years since Michael Penn delivered MP4: Days Since a Lost Time Accident, a complex yet radio-ready ode to the passing millennium that put the nail in the coffin of his tempestuous relationship with major labels. Epic's support for the record was mediocre at best, so Penn took the logical next step and started his own imprint, Mimeograph. The resulting Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947, released via spinART, is a loosely constructed song cycle concerning post-World War II Los Angeles. Like fellow singer/songwriter (and Penn's wife) Aimee Mann, who released her own conceptual record earlier in the year (The Forgotten Arm), Penn forgoes the traditional narrative and sticks to what he does best, writing biting and beautiful songs about relationships that are failing, have failed, or are suspiciously working. He lets the year's historical events (the invention of the portable radio, the establishment of the national Department of Defense, a plague of UFO sightings, etc.) wrap his characters in the kind of sepia-tone strokes of nostalgic Hollywood gossamer that would make both Frank Capra and Tom Waits proud. In fact, Penn's slick Tin Pan Alley mini-orchestra (due largely in part to frequent collaborator Patrick Warren's orchestral samples) resembles Rain Dogs-era Waits had he brought Jon Brion on board to produce. When it works, like on the rousing, sentimental opener "Walter Reed," "On Automatic," and "Mary Lynn," Penn knocks the ball into the bleachers, but there's an overflow of midtempo pieces about halfway through that brings the record to a standstill. While songs like "A Bad Sign" and "You Know How" are textbook Penn, they suck the air out of the room, leaving the listener feeling like a winded old police chief who let the bad guys get away. Penn's lyrical spirit of adventure is mirrored by the album's production rather than the songs themselves, a disappointment for fans of past works like "Cover Up," "Drained," "Footdown," and "Battle Room." Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947 is by no means a bad record; in fact, half of it is better than previous offerings altogether. That Penn is better than some of these songs only reflects the high standards he continues to set for both himself and his very patient fans. Let's hope that another five years doesn't go by before he raises the bar again. [Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947 was reissued in 2007 with a bonus disc that featured six tracks recorded live at KCRW, as well as the video for the album's single "Walter Reed."].
© James Christopher Monger /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:03:17
- Main artists: Michael Penn
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: RCA - Legacy
- Genre: Pop/Rock
(P) 2005, 2007 Mimeograph Records, 1989, 1992 BMG Music, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2007 SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.