The early assessment of Aimee Mann's latest "Lost in Space" is, essentially, that it's no "Bachelor #2". Yeah, the soundtrack to "Yellow Submarine" sucked right after the White Album, too.

Let's be clear: "Bachelor #2" is a wonderful CD with deeply piercing lyrics, eloquent melodies, and Mann's haunting vocals. But so is "Lost in Space." It's a little darker and down-tempo, but it still has all the beauty and artistry that Mann brings to her music. And instead of giving lie to the suggestion that she has "slipped" with this release, we should give credit to an artist who stays true to her vision. I fear the critics (including the increasingly irrelevant Rolling Stone) gave the CD one listen, declared "no standout hits", and fell back on the lazy cliché of artistic inertia.

That's too bad, because where else can you find a song called "Pavlov's Bell", guitar-crisp and crackling with lyrics like "I'm all about denial / But can't denial let me believe?" The opening track "Humpty Dumpty" is also a great tune, layered with an orchestra full of instruments. I was also partial to the simple melody of "Invisible Ink", starting slowly, building, and falling back all the while anchored by Mann's angelic voice.

If you've never heard Aimee Mann, by all means start out with "Bachelor #2" or the soundtrack to the movie "Magnolia", which was based on her music. When you fall under her spell, backtrack to "I'm With Stupid." Then, young Jedi, when you've come to appreciate the talent of Aimee Mann, come back to "Lost in Space." You'll be glad you did.