ItâÂÂs no coincidence that Aimee MannâÂÂs latest album is called âÂÂLost in Space,â because when the vocalist/guitarist performs she has the vacant stare of a space cadet. However, her atmospheric songwriting proved refreshingly down-to-earth during ThursdayâÂÂs concert at Liberty Hall.

Mann and her five-piece band started off tentative, opening the program with the less-than-stirring cut âÂÂThe Moth.â But by the fourth tune, the 41-year-old musician began to loosen up. She physically (and symbolically) took off her jacket and got down to business.

The majority of her moody, melancholy material was drawn from âÂÂLost in Space,â with the acoustic-driven ballad âÂÂThis is How It Goesâ and the midtempo rocker âÂÂPavlovâÂÂs Bellâ as standouts. However, Mann drew the biggest response when unleashing material that appeared in the 1999 film âÂÂMagnolia,â including âÂÂSave Me,â for which she was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar.

Interestingly, the artist completely bypassed the catalog of material from âÂÂTil Tuesday, the Boston-based band that launched her career. When she began âÂÂthrowing off the tyranny of the set listâ and taking requests from the audience, shouts for âÂÂTil TuesdayâÂÂs hit single âÂÂVoices Carryâ were snubbed.

âÂÂToo old,â she gave as the reason.

The showâÂÂs most amusing moment came when Mann stopped a song mere seconds into the intro because of the sound coming from sideman Michael LockwoodâÂÂs guitar. Pronouncing the instrument âÂÂspectacularly out of tune,â the singer good-naturedly called âÂÂJason the guitar roadieâ to the stage and had him take a bow.

The incident depicted the eveningâÂÂs only discord.