I realize it isn’t generally accepted as “cool” to like music by Mandy Moore.  I mean, yes, she did put out a compliation of cover songs a few years back that I have to give her full credit for.  The album is little-known, called Coverage, and she honestly sang the absolute heck out of a list of songs so classically great that I’ll go as far as to say it is one of my favorite cover albums ever made, but … those were covers.   

I’ve been hearing all sorts of hype surrounding her new album, seeing as how she co-wrote a lot of it with people like The Weepies, Chantal Kreviazuk, Lori McKenna, and Rachael Yamagata … all people I just love.  I must say, though, I was still pretty skeptical about how I was going to feel about the results of these collaborations. 

Well, today I got my answer … I haven’t heard anything else off of her album, but someone uploaded the last track, Gardenia to YouTube, and it is completely and totally, no-questions-asked, BEAUTIFUL!  I mean … wow … I’ve had it on repeat for a while now, and it’s actually made me tear up a little.  (Yeah, yeah, yeah …)  The girl laid down some emotion in this song, and I have to say … I am thoroughly impressed.  So impressed that I will be buying her new album when it comes out.  (Yeah, I said it!)

Check this out, and try to tell me it isn’t just heartwrenchingly beautiful:

She co-wrote this one with Chantal Kreviazuk, who nabbed me as a fan with the lyrics to her song, Feels Like Home, years and years ago.  Anyhow, I am quite liking the lyrics to Gardenia as well. 

So, yeah, that’s my confession of the day.  From one music snob to the world … I love Gardenia by Mandy Moore!  Is-a nice.