Spring Break
Kweller's album offers country charm from a different horse
"Changing Horses" a definite departure from past albums
By: Stephen Shepperd
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: News
These days, it seems that a growing rite of passage for every singer-songwriter is to release a country-rooted album. Ben Kweller can officially be considered a man. In his fourth studio album, "Changing Horses," the Greenville, Texas, singer indeed mounts a horse of a different kind than the one he galloped on for his first three albums.
Since the age of 7, Kweller has been playing music with his father, covering songs by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. By the age of 9, he had composed a number of original songs, and now with "Changing Horses" at the age of 27, Kweller shows he is not done maturing musically.
The singer-songwriter approaches this album with an already acclaimed solo career. His music has appeared in almost every corner of pop culture, whether it be movies, television, commercials or hip hop albums, not to mention a legendary (and bloody) performance at the Austin City Limits music festival in 2006.
In his three previously released albums, Kweller has explored many genres including pop, folk and punk rock. Seeing his history of somewhat genre A.D.D., it is hard to believe Kweller did not set out to make a country album for his latest release.
Although there was more than a two-year hiatus between "Changing Horses" and his last self-titled album, Kweller never stopped writing music. He sampled some songs in front of audiences while on a nationwide tour, as well as performed tracks from this album on late night shows in October 2008.
"Changing Horses" struts an "easy going" attitude, creating images of a family band on the porch in the dusty summer heat. Going along with the country attitude, songs about rebellious girls, "On Her Own," and Greyhound stations, "Sawdust Man," make cameos on the album, as well as steel guitars and harmonizing cry breaks throughout.
The album starts off with "Gypsy Rose," in which an unaccompanied banjo plays a measure leading into Kweller with a singing style sounding oddly similar to an early Bob Dylan. The country twang sets in lyrically when he sings, "Rose/ I've got no friends/ I've got no kids/ And I got no kin/ My one salvation is the warmth of your skin."
Since the age of 7, Kweller has been playing music with his father, covering songs by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. By the age of 9, he had composed a number of original songs, and now with "Changing Horses" at the age of 27, Kweller shows he is not done maturing musically.
The singer-songwriter approaches this album with an already acclaimed solo career. His music has appeared in almost every corner of pop culture, whether it be movies, television, commercials or hip hop albums, not to mention a legendary (and bloody) performance at the Austin City Limits music festival in 2006.
In his three previously released albums, Kweller has explored many genres including pop, folk and punk rock. Seeing his history of somewhat genre A.D.D., it is hard to believe Kweller did not set out to make a country album for his latest release.
Although there was more than a two-year hiatus between "Changing Horses" and his last self-titled album, Kweller never stopped writing music. He sampled some songs in front of audiences while on a nationwide tour, as well as performed tracks from this album on late night shows in October 2008.
"Changing Horses" struts an "easy going" attitude, creating images of a family band on the porch in the dusty summer heat. Going along with the country attitude, songs about rebellious girls, "On Her Own," and Greyhound stations, "Sawdust Man," make cameos on the album, as well as steel guitars and harmonizing cry breaks throughout.
The album starts off with "Gypsy Rose," in which an unaccompanied banjo plays a measure leading into Kweller with a singing style sounding oddly similar to an early Bob Dylan. The country twang sets in lyrically when he sings, "Rose/ I've got no friends/ I've got no kids/ And I got no kin/ My one salvation is the warmth of your skin."
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