Rock ‘n’ roll is in a rut. With rock airwaves plagued with nue-metal and pop-punk wise-guy bands, a new voice is needed to freshen things up a little. The bands that get heavy airplay wail away, singing songs about sophomoric tales of high school hijinks, or they attempt to take it down a notch by crooning about how depressing it is to be a rock star.
Here’s a newsflash for all of today’s rock gods: Rock ‘n’ roll isn’t about the chicks and the parties, or about the rage and the anger. The focal point of rock should always be the music. A new voice is needed to bring rock music back to its original focus. The piano-led rock band Ben Kweller is that voice.
Ben Kweller’s first release, Sha Sha, isn’t a metal manifesto or an ode to Ozzy; instead, it showcases a quieter, more harmonious, pop-driven side of rock music.
The 21-year-old Kweller is no stranger to the recording industry. At 15, he formed Radish, a critically acclaimed, post-grunge era alternative band. After releasing its first album, Restraining Bolt, Radish broke up due to lack of support from its label.
Having learned from its previous experiences in bad record label relations, Kweller signed a new deal with ATO Records, a smaller label started by Dave Matthews. Recording with a smaller label allowed Kweller to have more control over his music; at the same time, ATO is able to give the band more attention since they only have a few artists on their roster.
A strong departure from his grunge metal days in Radish, Kweller’s new release presents listeners with a more acoustic sound. On the album, he does manage to take a few shots at his critics with lyrics like, “Though the press may shoot me down I’m still true.”
The album’s single “Wasted & Ready” is a radio-friendly ode to partying too hard and bad decisions. The chorus of the song goes from “I am wasted but I’m ready,” to “I’m running as fast as I can,” addressing the down side of waking up wondering exactly what it was you did the night before.
“Wasted & Ready” is just a sampling of Kweller’s lyrical ability. He proves that he is a crafty wordsmith with lyrics like, “Nothing isn’t nothing, nothing’s something that’s important to me,” that are scattered throughout all 11 tracks on Sha Sha. Taking another jab at his critics, Kweller throws back a piece of advice given to him by a condescending label rep on the song “Family Tree,” singing, “Stick to love songs kid, that’s all you’re knowing.”
He wrote all of the tracks for the album on the piano, bringing a more intimate and melodic vibe to the entire disc. The songs range from witty quips about the industry to happy-go-lucky love songs. He creates songs mature beyond his years. Listening to his voice, you don’t hear a 21-year-old punk kid strumming a guitar; you hear the comforting voice of a guy singing about everyday life and how he deals with it.
The combination of acoustic guitar and piano, accompanied by Kweller’s soothing voice and outstanding songwriting ability, make Sha Sha the perfect disc to spin while soaking up rays or hitting the books. Songs about love, life and normalcy help weave together fun, accessible songs containing concrete images and clever lyrics. Ben Kweller may not save rock ‘n’ roll, but his sound brings the music back to its roots. This movement could lead to rock’s salvation.
