On his new album Changing Horses (out Feb. 3rd), indie popster Ben Kweller returns to his Texas roots with his first all-country record.
From the first chords of Hank Williams-style "Gypsy Rose" it becomes obvious that this will be the "wife ran away with the dog" kind of country rather than the slick new country.
If Matthew Sweet and Ryan Adams were to have a bastard lovechild he would pen songs that sound like these.
Kweller's clever lyrics and knack for the pop hook translate remarkably well into the country realm. "On Her Own" and "Hurtin' You" are the type of singalong you expect from Kweller while "Things I Like To Do" is just dripping with wit, making him sound like a twangy Evan Dando.
One can tell Kweller is serious about this effort and he's not doing country with any tongue-in-cheek. You can almost feel the sawdust and peanut shells on the ground and smell the stale beer when you listen to the party stomper "Sawdust Man".
The album is best when Kweller is playing uptempo. The lead single "Fight" is destined to be a truck driving road anthem.
Some of the slower tracks, like "Ballad of Wendy Baker", do tend to drag. However, possibly the album's best track is the slow-mover "Old Hat" one which Kweller laments 'I never wanna be the old hat you put on your pretty head'. It makes for a very pretty song.
Changing Horses isn't perfect, but it is a hip pocket full o' fun.
Anyone who pre-orders Changing Horses (here) will be entered to win Ben Kweller prizes including dinner with Ben.
Ben Kweller plays the Mod Club in Toronto on Feb. 22nd with The Watson Twins.
Best tracks: "Old Hat", "On Her Own"
Track listing for Changing Horses:
- Gyspsy Rose
- Old Hat
- Fight
- Hurtin' You
- Ballad of Wendy Baker
- Sawdust Man
- Wantin' Her Again
- Things I Like To Do
- On Her Own
- Homeward Bound
8.0
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