Few artists define underground success as well as Michael Penn. Known mostly for his famous brothers Sean and the late Chris Penn, or for his equally talented and slightly better known wife Aimee Mann, few people recognize Michael Penn for the music he's quietly produced for almost 20 years. When hard pressed, people may recognize his song "No Myth (Romeo in Black Jeans)" or his distinct pitched voice from a song they might have heard on a soundtrack, somewhere. But when you take a moment to look back at the 6 albums he's produced since 1989, you find a dozen or more gems surrounded by interesting noises or sounds. Songs with concepts that hearken back to literary references (Brave New World) or political outrage (Walter Reed), bitter songs mourning a terrible breakup (Long Way Down, Seen The Doctor) or offering words of comfort (OK).
It's been 15 years since he's produced a top 100 single, but you might have heard his instrumental work on the soundtracks to such movies as Boogie Nights or The Last Kiss, or maybe you heard Walter Reed played on an episode of House. Either way, his latest album - Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947 is a mix of tightly written songs and interesting sounds that harken back to a specific location and time.
Michael Penn will be playing at Schuba's in Chicago on Wed. May 9th. Tickets are $20. You can hear him on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/michaelpenn
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