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Track Listings
| 1. Introduction |
| 2. Close To You |
| 3. The Globe |
| 4. Hurting |
| 5. Embrace |
| 6. Bible Belt |
| 7. Captivity |
| 8. Huddle On The Rooftop |
| 9. Cluttered Mind |
| 10. Electrified |
| 11. I Need |
Editorial Reviews
Ben Sollee wants you to experience all the beauty and banality that life has to offer. It's a serious request, and his enthusiasm is genuine. Armed with a cello, Sollee is canvassing the country, sometimes by bicycle, imploring folks to rediscover the connections between music, art, film, dance, their community, and personal relationships. These factors ultimately translate to the mindset and making of Ben's new project - Inclusions. Beyond bridging genres and demographics with earnest, dynamic songwriting and passionate performances, Ben Sollee seeks to intertwine his music with art and life. The theme of Inclusions is large, humanistic and universal - how relationships influence us all whether intentional or not. The classically trained pop cellist recognized his community and relationships in every facet of Inclusions. Collaborating with local visual artist Phillip March Jones, the album art for Inclusions brings a visual reference to the allegoryofthealbum. Ben'spastreleasesincludehis2008debut Learning To Bend, songstress Abigail Washburn's Sparrow Quartet project with Bela Fleck, and 2010's Dear CompanIon collaboration with My Morning Jacket frontman Yim Yames and Sub Pop's Daniel Martin Moore.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
In the arts, it is often said that the sophomore album, novel, film, etc., is the most difficult for an artist to create. Seldom, is a second offering as strong or compelling as the first offering. After a first listen, I "think" this can be said for Ben's second album (Think is in quotation marks because I could be wrong about this as I have only listened to the album once.). In any event, it is a far closer call than is customary. As this is a very personal album for Ben, his lyrics should speak for themselves without my filtering or interpretation. What I do want to comment on, however, is the rewarding nature of the music.
Ben's first solo album, Learning To Bend, was filled with a dizzying array of musical influences and instruments, which Ben melded together effortlessly. In this, his second solo album (third overall), Ben has elected for a less is more approach by using a more closed and cohesive approach to his arrangements. With this comes to the forefront, on a number of songs and with great effect, Ben's classical music training. Ben uses dissonance and slightly off-kilter arrangements, mostly with horns and strings, in the way it is used in classical music and seldom found in pop music. And he uses it properly, to enhance the meaning and feel of his lyrics. This is the primary factor that makes this album a more musically complex, and distinct, effort than Learning To Bend, Ben's stellar first album. Ben does this judiciously, and these songs always maintain the talent for melody that Ben displayed on Learning To Bend. So, nothing is lost here, and something significant is gained.
For me, there are several questions I employ in evaluating a second album and Ben gets more than affirmative answers to all the questions. First, are the songs strong or is the tank little empty? Yes, these are all strong songs, well worth your time to listen to and hopefully enjoy. Second, how much redundancy is present? There is very little redundancy present in this album. Third, how much growth is exemplified? Quite a lot. Fourth, after listening to the album the first time, how eager am I to listen to it a second and third time? Again, quite a lot.
My only reservation about this album is somewhat avuncular toward Ben. He is an immensely talented musician and songwriter. And, for my money, he does so many things right. He writes musically challenging yet wonderfully accessible, melodic, songs. He keeps his albums at conventional LP lengths. He makes little effort to be modern sounding by overly compressing the dynamics of the songs to maximize their listenability on iPods and the like. Consequently, as with Learning To Bend, this album sounds great on an audiophile system. These things make Ben somewhat unique, particularly for an artist of his generation. Perhaps, Ben is limiting his audience by doing these things and that would be a shame, not only for Ben but for music lovers. Because, with this album, Ben has proven he is a keeper. An artist worth following as his musical journey continues. In the end, if you love music, that's why you should purchase this album without reservation: You will reward a talented musician with an album purchase and you will reward yourself with 35 and a half minutes of great music.
Ben's first solo album, Learning To Bend, was filled with a dizzying array of musical influences and instruments, which Ben melded together effortlessly. In this, his second solo album (third overall), Ben has elected for a less is more approach by using a more closed and cohesive approach to his arrangements. With this comes to the forefront, on a number of songs and with great effect, Ben's classical music training. Ben uses dissonance and slightly off-kilter arrangements, mostly with horns and strings, in the way it is used in classical music and seldom found in pop music. And he uses it properly, to enhance the meaning and feel of his lyrics. This is the primary factor that makes this album a more musically complex, and distinct, effort than Learning To Bend, Ben's stellar first album. Ben does this judiciously, and these songs always maintain the talent for melody that Ben displayed on Learning To Bend. So, nothing is lost here, and something significant is gained.
For me, there are several questions I employ in evaluating a second album and Ben gets more than affirmative answers to all the questions. First, are the songs strong or is the tank little empty? Yes, these are all strong songs, well worth your time to listen to and hopefully enjoy. Second, how much redundancy is present? There is very little redundancy present in this album. Third, how much growth is exemplified? Quite a lot. Fourth, after listening to the album the first time, how eager am I to listen to it a second and third time? Again, quite a lot.
My only reservation about this album is somewhat avuncular toward Ben. He is an immensely talented musician and songwriter. And, for my money, he does so many things right. He writes musically challenging yet wonderfully accessible, melodic, songs. He keeps his albums at conventional LP lengths. He makes little effort to be modern sounding by overly compressing the dynamics of the songs to maximize their listenability on iPods and the like. Consequently, as with Learning To Bend, this album sounds great on an audiophile system. These things make Ben somewhat unique, particularly for an artist of his generation. Perhaps, Ben is limiting his audience by doing these things and that would be a shame, not only for Ben but for music lovers. Because, with this album, Ben has proven he is a keeper. An artist worth following as his musical journey continues. In the end, if you love music, that's why you should purchase this album without reservation: You will reward a talented musician with an album purchase and you will reward yourself with 35 and a half minutes of great music.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By L. Barnes
Format:MP3 Music
If you appreciate quality musicianship and premium songwriting, it's hard not to love this album. It is completely different from his debut, Learning to Bend, and although that album is also 5 stars, I find it refreshing when an artist I love grows and changes while maintaining the same level of talent and dedication. Ben's passion shines through. He is a great song smith.
By Pugs
Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first saw Ben Sollee when he opened for Vienna Teng (another of my favorite artists) at Schubas in Chicago. I hadn't heard of him and had no expectations whatsoever. I dig the cello... I mean Yo-Yo Ma's the man, right? No... Ben Sollee is the THE MAN!! He slapped that cello; he bowed it; threw on metal fingerpicks and plucked the hell out of it. Everything he did to it produced incredibly heartfelt and beautiful, bluegrass inspired folk music with a touch of jazz and blues. Oh! Homey can sing, too! His rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" (not on this album) is my favorite take on that fantastic piece of music. This album, is all that I expect of him and more. Treat yourself to a seriously gifted individual, playing inspired music!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ben Sollee Inclusions
I saw Ben Sollee for the first time in Porland ME at his 'Ditch the Van' tour. Absolutely blown away between the two young men, the music, the energy! The personality! Read more
Published 8 months ago by Deborah A. McCoy
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Go To CD
One day I stumbled upon a video for "Close to You". I watched it once and immediately picked up the CD. One listen. One song. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Arlington J. Trombley Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent album
This album is amazing. My husband recommended that I listen to it and I was very glad I did! It was, for lack of a better way to describe it, smooth and well crafted and did not... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Kyra the Red
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not what I expected
I heard one of the songs on public radio and really liked it. It was the best song on the CD among some pretty unusual others. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Julie Newcomer
