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Finally, BK is ready to unleash his full-length solo debut.
Throughout "SHA SHA," BK shows off his mastery of classic songcraft. The
album opening "How It Should Be (Sha Sha)" - featuring backing vox from
the Moldy Peaches' Kimya Dawson - demonstrates the profound and lasting
influence of the Velvets' "I'm Sticking With You," while "No Reason" and
"Harriet's Got A Song" are the best pop tunes Stephen Malkmus never wrote.
A lifelong fan of an old-fashioned sing-along, Kweller truly digs the
value of a well-placed "ba-ba-ba" hook - see the magical "Falling" for
proof. Recorded in NYC during the summer of 2001 with producer Stephen
Harris (Dave Matthews Band, U2), "SHA SHA" sees BK backed by, among
others, bassist Josh Lattanzi and old friend and drummer from Radish, John
Kent. The album pops with the same infectious energy of BK's acoustic
performances and home recordings, though fleshed out to feature a more
fully realized sonic approach. While many modern artists are all too ready
to box themselves in, BK's musical and lyrical focus is refreshingly
kaleidoscopic. From the front porch wistfulness of the country-tinged
"Family Tree," to the hints of pagan mythology that inform "Make It Up,"
to the numerous junk culture references that permeate the entire album,
Ben Kweller seemingly knows no boundaries.
Visit the website for audio
tracks and more info at
www.benkweller.com
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