Yesterday I heard Ben Kweller’s yet to be released (Sept.19) album in full, and must say, it really impressed me. It impressed me not only because it’s great music, but Kweller played each and every instrument on the album. This is probably my favorite Kweller album to date, and from what he says, he feels the exact same way.
It’s a hard pick, but if I had to choose my two favorite tracks off the album, I would have to say Nothing Happening and Magic. I’ve always been a fan of instrumentals between verses, and Kweller has definitely succeeded doing this in several of his songs. The song Thirteen has an instumental with a harmonica that is a great addition to the song. Nothing Happening has a faded guitar instrumental, and Magic also has an instumental with a xylophone and guitar. This Indie pop makes any nice summer day that much nicer.
Ben Kweller album shows that he has matured a lot. Like he says, “I’m just singing about things that are more important than just saying ‘sha sha’ or ‘la la’.” Now do yourself a favor. Check out these songs, and pre-order this album today! As an added bonus, you’ll be automatically entered to win a grand prize trip to see Ben live, with VIP tickets and backstage access.
Ben Kweller:
Ben Kweller – Nothing Happening
I was fortunate enough to see Ben Kweller at Lollapalooza this year. If you have a chance, go see him. Here is a list of his U.S. Tour dates:
September 2006
13 – Houston, TX – Meridian
14 – Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa
15 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre
16 – Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Festival
19 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theater
22 – Los Angeles, CA – Avalon
24, 25 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
28 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
29 – Bellingham, WA – Western Washington University
30 – Seattle, WA – Showbox
October 2006
3 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
4 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
6 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
7 – Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre
8 – Milwaukee, WI – The Eagles Club
11 – Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall
12 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
13 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
14 – Nashville, TN – Rocketown
15 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
18 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
20, 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
22 – Boston, MA – Avalon