The Rebirth of Venus

Ben Lee | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 28, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New West Records
• ASIN: B001LK1L7O
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,124 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. What's So Bad (About Feeling Good?)

2. Surrender

3. Sing

4. I Love Pop Music

5. Rise Up

6. Yoko Ono

7. Boy With A Barbie

8. Bad Poetry

9. Blue Denim

10. Wake Up To America

11. I'm A Woman Too

12. Families Cheating At Board Games

13. Song For The Divine Mother of the Universe

Editorial Reviews

Ben Lee dedicates his seventh studio recording to Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty. A bold move for a man, but Ben recognizes that the strongest feminine qualities "such as compassion, nurturing, creativity, spontaneity, intuition, playfulness, tenderness and warmth are qualities that we all, men and women, need to cultivate." The Rebirth of Venus was produced by Brad Wood, who also produced Ben's breakout album Awake Is The New Sleep featuring the international hit "Catch My Disease". Ben Lee has been living as a working musician for over half his lifetime. Beginning at the age of 14, he has stayed grounded and spiritually focused. A portion of proceeds from albums sold will be donated to FINCA's Village Banking program. FINCA offers financial services, not charity, to the world's lowest-income women entrepreneurs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sing along!, May 4, 2009

By 

ClickmeClickme (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rebirth of Venus (Audio CD)

Let me be the first to defend Ben. Lighten up Rudy klapper. It's not meant to change the world. What's wrong with catchy pop? This is FUN music by a very talented singer.

I met him at a concert last year. Seems like an intellegent very likeable guy.

I can't sing, really not at all, but I can hardly resist singing along (alone in the car that is).

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Call and Response = Fun!, December 30, 2009

By 

Persephone Rising (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rebirth of Venus (Audio CD)

I suppose the call and response element to this album would not make much sense to someone who has not been to a Ben Lee Concert, but to me, this album captures fully the Ben Lee Concert Experience. It's not about Ben, it's about the audience having a good time and feeling joyful, even if that means being a little silly.

Likewise, those who have not met Ben would probably consider this album to be cloying or disingenuous, but, really, Ben is one of the most authentic people I've ever had the pleasure to meet. He simply does not care if something comes off as cheesy...he's just being him. Not only that, but he wants YOU to not care if you are being cheesy, too. It's about letting go and living in the moment. This album is a testiment to his personality and eccentric thought process. It takes a big man to align himself with the feminine, so in that respect, this is an extremely brave album.

As for the music itself, Boy w. a Barbie is fantastic, imo. Families Cheating at Boardgames often brings me to tears...somehow he gets the Dysfunctional Family dynamic just right. Love the percussion (by his step-daughter)at the beginning of What's So Bad (About Feeling Good); the message is a good one, too. Fave line "No guilt, all pleasure".
Brad Wood is back producing and that's good news as he did a great job w. Awake is the New Sleep, as well. I think that Ben's music is an acquired taste; some people are going to get it, and some people aren't, and that's ok.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun; That's Enough For Me, August 30, 2010

By 

Bob Dog "My Thoughts" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Rebirth of Venus (Audio CD)

I heard "What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)?" from this CD a weeks ago in a public place, wrote down a lyric, looked it up later, and now I am a Ben Lee fan (having listened to all the older material as well).

I like the irreverence, expressed in both the lyrics and the execution of the songs. Perhaps the points he makes aren't the deepest, or most pressing issues in the world today, but sometimes I just want to be entertained by someone with sincerety and wit.

"What's So Bad.." reminded me of Elvis Costello's "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding," released more than twenty years ago.

Lee occupies a space somewhere between Dylan and Wierd Al (perhaps closer to Wierd Al sometimes!), but I enjoy it.

My father entertained us with half sincere half silly songs on the back patio when I was a kid. Maybe this explains why I will always have a place in my heart for this kind of thing.