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Ben Kweller

Ben Kweller  Hear it Now

RS: 3of 5 Stars Average User Rating: 4.5of 5 Stars

2006

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After fronting the short-lived teenage grunge band Radish, Ben Kweller proved a songwriter to watch with 2002's Sha Sha and 2004's lesser On My Way, both of which offered solid alt-rock and power pop. On Ben Kweller -- a slightly less edgy record stuck between its two predecessors quality-wise -- the twenty-five-year-old touches on Sixties pop and Seventies AM fare on songs that sound both well-crafted and unfussy, if a little lightweight. Kweller plays every instrument here, and bright cuts like "Run" and "Magic" feature a sturdy guitar sound that leaves plenty of room for Kweller's boyish whine and catchy choruses. Though Kweller is getting better at channeling his thoughtful disaffection, his best lines still sound tossed off, as on "Thirteen": "We questioned religions/Gave bread to the pigeons." All in all a sweet little batch of songs, but not the great record Kweller may have in him.

CHRISTIAN HOARD

(Posted: Sep 12, 2006)

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Review 1 of 2

nwaskew writes:

5of 5 Stars


ben you get a five from me. sha sha is a six

Dec 12, 2006 21:54:31

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Review 2 of 2

Daire writes:

4of 5 Stars


Ok, so this isn't gonna make the catchiest singer-songwriter out there a star but it does reclaim the feet-tapping heights of his debut, "Sha Sha". Tracks like 'Run', first single 'Sundress' and 'Penny on a Train Track' have the kind of energy, innocence and simplicity that Kweller's fans love him for. He also goes all forlorn and nostalgic on songs like 'Thirteen' and 'Until I Die' but never gets sickly sentimental or dull. And final track 'This is War' is a riotous throwback to his days in the self-styled 'sugar metal' three-piece Radish with a refreshingly mocking attitude to anti-war songs. All in all this is a less complicated treat compared to 2004's "By The Way". It may wear out its welcome quite quickly but for 2 months these songs will be implanted in your head, and your feet. Keep tapping.

Sep 18, 2006 03:52:41

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