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Ben Kweller
Changing Horses
Campus Correspondent review by Kate Seesholtz,
Belmont University
Ben Kweller’s most recent studio album Changing Horses (ATO) is a venture into the realm of the glory days of country music. While Kweller was bound to explore the country genre eventually (he was born and raised in a small Texas town), the attempt is less impressive than hoped for. While the album fits Kweller’s style, a mix of blues and classic country versus the mainstream pop country of today, the album tends to drag. Beginning with a slow moving ballad entitled “Gypsy Rose” at almost five minutes long, the song is about three minutes past its desired length.
The tracks that follow, including the more upbeat, “Things I Like To Do,” all sound fairly similar to one another. The lack of differentiation in the songs make the album seem longer than its ten tracks. Kweller sacrifices meaningful lyrics for his idea of what country music is supposed to be about. He focuses too much on truckers and diners instead of just singing his heart.
A highlight on the album, though, does come in the form of a passion filled catchy track entitled “Sawdust Man.” Kweller’s honest energy, along with instantly familiar lines such as “I want to kiss you from your head to your toes and take this thing as far as it goes,” make the song an instant hit. But now that Ben Kweller has “changed horses,” let’s hope he changes right back for his next album.
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