Ben Kweller
 

Ben Kweller has been one of my favorite artists since I first heard him blaring through the speakers of my cousin's car. Even in phases of otherwise sub-par music taste, I've stayed true to my BK fan-girl. I can listen to his albums on repeat all day long, which I often do, and still fell that warm-and-tingly-all-over feeling his music provides. If you have yet to experience Ben Kweller in your life, I have to say you're missing out.


How it Should Be (Sha Sha) is a really catchy intro to the album with an upbeat piano riff. It's just a fun song with, for lack of a better word, catchy lyrics.
Favorite line: "Nothing isn't nothing, nothing's something that's important to me."

Wasted and Ready is another simply fun song. With foot tapping music and humorous lyrics, this is the song that got me interested in Ben Kweller in the first place.
Favorite line: "It's easy but it seems so hard. You're near but you seem so far."

Family Tree can probably be interpreted different ways, but in my opinion it's an awww-worthy song filled with lots of "bop-bops" and a sweet chorus.
Favorite line: "I hope the world would shoot me down for losing you. A broken branch I'd be if you weren't grown to me."

Commerce, TX is one of the more poplular songs from any of his albums, as well as one of my personal favorites.
Favorite line: "My brain is super-fried. It involves pain to look inside."

In Other Words has such a beautiful melody and lyrics, and is another really chill and great song.
Favorite line: "The only thing that's real are the kids who kid themselves."

Walk on Me might be the only song that I don't particularly care for. I mean, I don't skip it when it comes on... But I don't think "oh I want to listen to that one."
Favorite line: If I was in your shoes I wouldn't walk all over you, so please don't walk all over me."

Make it Up is the point in the album where I really appreciate BK's talent. Not necessarily because of this song, but because I'm halfway through the album with no sense of redundance or boredom. This album has a very familiar sound to it, but at the same time it's completely original.
Favorite line: "I need a new direction to get me around. You don't have protection as you're coming down."

No Reason isn't one of my favorites, but I love how this song has a lot of change of volume and speed, and the sudden unexpected outburst.
Favorite line: "There are ripples in my tea cause an earthquake's coming."

Lizzie is probably my second favorite song on the album. It has a bluesy feel to it, and I find myself fighting the urge to pull out a lighter and sway.
Favorite line: "Me and my darlin' keep love alive. Even on texas time."

Harriet's Got a Song has such a cool sound, almost grungy. It's a good'n.
Favorite line: "But your brand new eyes shrink me to a size. Make it hard to see my reality."

Falling is the perfect conclusion to a great album. With more "bop-ba's" and that above said familiar sound, the last song on the album is just as important as the first.
Favorite line: "Trees fall and so do men. Even the walls start caving in and you feel like there's no pretend for you."

So that sums up Sha Sha. I was planning on doing all three albums at once, but that seems completely unrealistic as it's taken me literally four hours to finish this. (I'm easily distracted.) But you can count on seeing the other two reviews in the near future.

Edit: Deserving of some videos, no?
Wasted and Ready


Commerce, TX

Nice review. I dug this out today to have a listen after reading your review. I am probably less fond of Sha Sha than your good self but I do think that it is an enjoyable and sunny power pop record. I am looking forward to your further reviews.

hes my favourite young singer songwriter type out there
conor oberst just doesnt do it for me