The Both
| The Both | |
|---|---|
The Both (Aimee Mann and Ted Leo) in Philadelphia on May 3, 2014
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| Background information | |
| Genres | Indie rock, power pop |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | SuperEgo Records |
| Website | www |
| Members |
Aimee Mann Ted Leo |
| The Both | |
|---|---|
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| Studio album by The Both | |
| Released | April 15, 2014 |
| Length | 41:59 |
| Producer | Paul Bryan |
| Professional ratings | |
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| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Rolling Stone |  |
| Spin | 7/10 |
The Both is an American musical duo consisting of Aimee Mann and Ted Leo, both of whom had longstanding musical careers before beginning a collaboration in 2013. Their first album, self-titled The Both, was released in April 2014.
The songwriting collaboration between Aimee Mann and Ted Leo originated during a joint concert tour in 2012, and specifically with an appearance together at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 11, 2012, which was later described in the lyrics of their song "Milwaukee." At that time, Leo was the opening act for Mann, and the two sometimes collaborated on stage. They began writing songs together in December 2012.
Mann and Leo were initially brought to each other's attention in 2001, when Scott Miller, leader of the bands Game Theory and The Loud Family, gave Mann one of Leo's albums. Miller, who died in April 2013, was later described as having a "special, spiritual, guru-like presence" in the heart of The Both's debut album.
On March 8, 2013, the duo performed their first show together as #BOTH, formatting the band's name as a hashtag.
Mann and Leo frequently trade off lead vocal duties within their songs, each taking a verse before joining in harmonies that "expertly interw[ea]ve their voices."
Mann performs on bass and acoustic guitar, and Leo performs on electric guitar. In addition, during concerts Leo occasionally plays a modeling keyboard to replicate a few overdubs of strings and synthesized flute from the studio recordings that, according to Leo, "have become important parts of the songs" to him.
The Both have also become known for their extended on-stage "jokey banter", with "quips and asides" described as "nearly as great as the songs they fed into." Their concerts have been called "one part super-group show, and one part close friends... fluidly (and hilariously) play[ing] off of one another."
The Both typically perform with a guest drummer who is introduced and acknowledged, but who has no singing or speaking role onstage. Session drummer Scott Seiver toured with The Both in 2013 and played on the band's debut album. For the band's 2014 tour, Matt Mayhall replaced Seiver on drums, with Mann commenting in an interview, "We're a power trio."
On April 15, 2014, The Both released their debut album, self-titled The Both, on Mann's label, SuperEgo Records.
Mann and Leo had initially announced in 2013 that they would be releasing an EP together, but after writing enough material for an EP, they decided to continue the collaboration and release a full LP.
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Wikipedia