Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Ben Kweller
Ben Kweller will be like our Neil Young. They both started playing fiery music as youngins, quickly faded away, but came back with the solo book and began bona-fide careers. Neil's still making music that's generally good, and I can see Kweller doing the same...songwriter for the ages?
"Hear Me Out" on his second full-length, On My Way, begins with soft plucking and light harmonica and immediately kicks in with an allegory of a Rubic's Cube and something about blue jeans, then a teaser chorus. More cute lyrics, then the chorus (real thing.) It's something sincere by this point..."Hear me out, you dunno I'm here..." he's begging someone. Ah, then there's this brilliant harmonica part...there's something so sincere about a harmonica line (see the Libertines-"Can't Stand Me Now.") Chorus, Dando-esque guitar solo that whips and wails, transforming Kweller's earnest lyrics into something to experience rather than interpret. Harmonica, then done, leaving you itching for more.
On My Way is underrated and overlooked like Salinger's Franny and Zooey but it remains the best thing he or any other 22 year old has ever churned out of their post-adolescent-not-quite-ready-to-be-an-adult heart.
"Hear Me Out" on his second full-length, On My Way, begins with soft plucking and light harmonica and immediately kicks in with an allegory of a Rubic's Cube and something about blue jeans, then a teaser chorus. More cute lyrics, then the chorus (real thing.) It's something sincere by this point..."Hear me out, you dunno I'm here..." he's begging someone. Ah, then there's this brilliant harmonica part...there's something so sincere about a harmonica line (see the Libertines-"Can't Stand Me Now.") Chorus, Dando-esque guitar solo that whips and wails, transforming Kweller's earnest lyrics into something to experience rather than interpret. Harmonica, then done, leaving you itching for more.
On My Way is underrated and overlooked like Salinger's Franny and Zooey but it remains the best thing he or any other 22 year old has ever churned out of their post-adolescent-not-quite-ready-to-be-an-adult heart.
