admin
22 December 2023
A couple years ago, my brother heard this song he dug on NPR. It reminded him of Ben Folds, who we’re both big fans of. He missed who the song was by, so, being a go-getter, he called the station, got the playlist, and discovered it was Ben Kweller. He then bought Kweller’s first solo album, Sha Sha. I think I heard it once at his house, but that was about it.
Fast-forward to a month ago. Ben Folds is releasing these EPs on his website. I get his first two. The third one is a side project called The Bens, which features Folds, Ben Lee, and that guy Ben Kweller. I snagged it, and liked it more upon each listen.
So when tastes like chicken got Kweller’s newest album, On My Way (ATO Records), I snagged it up. The first thing I realized is that I got Kweller and Lee mixed up when listening to The Bens. The second was, “Why did this guy remind my bro of Ben Folds?”
But neither of those are negative, nor did they impede my enjoyment of the music. Sure, he’s only 23 and released his first album (with the band Radish) at 15! I won’t hold that against him-- despite my predilection to be jealous of people younger than me that are making “it” proverbially “happen”-- because he’s got the goods.
This collection of eleven songs was recorded with all the musicians in a room, playing the songs live. That kind of organic feel really shows. Kweller and his producer, Ethan Johns, don’t layer, mix, and overproduce everything to stale, studio perfection. Instead, you can hear some playful guitar back and forth. You can hear when Kweller’s voice cracks, or isn’t the perfect pitch. It’s organic and true.
Kweller’s lyrics and music aren’t overly complicated. He sounds like a young man singing about what’s on his mind right now-- girls, mostly. His next album will sound a little more mature. But this is real right now, and it’s a great listen from start to finish. It’s lo-fi, old school, pop rock. A little folky at times. The occasional harmonica. Loud, yelling/singing once in a while. It’s totally honest, through and through. If that’s up your alley, pick up On My Way. You won’t be disappointed.
Fast-forward to a month ago. Ben Folds is releasing these EPs on his website. I get his first two. The third one is a side project called The Bens, which features Folds, Ben Lee, and that guy Ben Kweller. I snagged it, and liked it more upon each listen.
So when tastes like chicken got Kweller’s newest album, On My Way (ATO Records), I snagged it up. The first thing I realized is that I got Kweller and Lee mixed up when listening to The Bens. The second was, “Why did this guy remind my bro of Ben Folds?”
But neither of those are negative, nor did they impede my enjoyment of the music. Sure, he’s only 23 and released his first album (with the band Radish) at 15! I won’t hold that against him-- despite my predilection to be jealous of people younger than me that are making “it” proverbially “happen”-- because he’s got the goods.
This collection of eleven songs was recorded with all the musicians in a room, playing the songs live. That kind of organic feel really shows. Kweller and his producer, Ethan Johns, don’t layer, mix, and overproduce everything to stale, studio perfection. Instead, you can hear some playful guitar back and forth. You can hear when Kweller’s voice cracks, or isn’t the perfect pitch. It’s organic and true.
Kweller’s lyrics and music aren’t overly complicated. He sounds like a young man singing about what’s on his mind right now-- girls, mostly. His next album will sound a little more mature. But this is real right now, and it’s a great listen from start to finish. It’s lo-fi, old school, pop rock. A little folky at times. The occasional harmonica. Loud, yelling/singing once in a while. It’s totally honest, through and through. If that’s up your alley, pick up On My Way. You won’t be disappointed.
artid
2188
Old Image
6_8_kweller.jpg
issue
vol 6 - issue 08 (apr 2004)
section
entertainmental