Ben Kweller Band

No thread? What a dude.

Just dropped a new single, I’m liking it.

 

Apparently a new album out in October.

 

8 songs, one of them released over a year ago, he’s not been very prolific, but I’ll take what I can get.

 

Haha yeah I thought the same thing.

 

On My Way is still one of my favs.

 

is Go Fly A Kite really his most recent album? That was 8 years ago now, wow

 

Devastated for Ben and his family :(

 

what the fuck, that is terrible

 

That are sick features, will be listening !

 

“The album was produced by Ben and features his band (Chris Mintz-Plasse [yes, McLovin] on bass” lmao

 

Amazing

 

I have been getting a kick out of the live clips on Instagram the past few years with McLovin on bass

 

Love that.

 

Love that too, sad but not like …miserable if that makes sense

 

I have never listened to a Ben Kweller album before but this album is definitely good and its subject matter really hit me as a new parent. It’s a sad set of songs but ultimately his love and optimism shines through in a way that’s honestly awe-inspiring. Some of the melodies and ways he’s singing remind me of Conor Oberst and Jeff Tweedy. I think more people should check this out... @Craig Manning you would like this

 

I'm not well-versed in every BK album, but I really enjoyed his last one, Circuit Boredom. Some great tunes on there. Excited to dive into this new one, though a little apprehensive as a parent as well. I listened to his interview on Artist Friendly last week, and his outlook on the whole situation is unbelievably positive.

 

Definitely want to listen. I really only know his debut.

 

Pretty easy to argue that this is his best album, nostalgia for sha sha aside.

 

Whoa there. Very interesting

 

It’s not worth the apprehension, in my opinion. I have heard some rough albums in this same subject matter vein (Mount Eerie and Nick Cave come to mind) and this record is nothing like those in terms of unyielding desolation. I haven’t heard any interviews yet but the music seems to be about pushing through the dark.

As a example, the song “Don’t Cave” feels like a sort of centerpiece closing the A side, and its tone reminds me very much of the Jack’s Mannequin song “Swim” if you’re into that band.

 

This record is great. It’s not Sha Sha and the themed are bluntly bleak and sad at times but it does feel like a rock and roll album from an artist with something to say and prove and using their skills to the top of their ability. Kweller is so good at songwriting and melody that, like Rivers, it can sometimes unintentionally veer into a pleasing-but-rote terrain but, on this one, every song is loaded with choices and intent and realness and restraint (when needed). The singles slowly hooked me hard over the last few months and I can’t stop listening to the album since it came out.

Also, yes, it’s nowhere near a Mount Eerie mourning album. It’s filled with sadness but also love and he isn’t here to make you feel the full extent of his pain. It’s a rock and roll album.