Customer Reviews

Something to Remember Me By

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Three years ago, after seeing the video for "New Song" on MTV's 120 Minutes, I immediately had to find this album. "New Song" was the hook, but what reeled me in were the stellar tracks populating the rest of the album. Lee, not yet 18, makes a remarkable showing on this album. His music could simply be described as a boy and his guitar, but that fails to underscore his talent as a songwriter.

Much of Lee's work on this album (and on his earlier Grandpaw Would) are stories of a young man searching for love, and searching for himself. These themes are present in standouts like "How to Survive a Broken Heart" and "Career Choice," the former of which brought Lee a wider audience through its appearance on the soundtrack to There's Something About Mary. Lee also shows a sense of humor in "End of the World," and "Household Name," a song about 80's television teen idols. The entire album is solid all the way through, and yet leaves room for great artistic growth. Look for great things to come from Ben Lee, but don't forget this one, either.

Quick Picks: If you like Ben Lee, try these (and vice versa): Luscious Jackson, Rufus Wainwright, Lotion

An album has to be pretty amazing for me to hand out a top rating. This is one of those albums. Every track on here is incredible. You won't have to skip a single one. Just let the album play. It will hold your attention all the way through. Ben covers a variety of topics here, but his specialty seems to be the pain of young love. Maybe it's because he started making music when he was so young, but he captures the feeling of those early relationships perfectly. The songs here have a live feel to them, like he's playing them right in the room with you. It's mostly him and his guitar with a few other instruments thrown in here and there. Two of my favorite tracks come in the middle and towards the end of the album. "Ketchum" is a beautiful slow song with violin and cello on it and "Grammercy Park Hotel" just has that feeling of what it's like in a big city during the very small hours of the morning. Ben has put out some really great albums, but this one is the one I find myself listening to the most. I highly suggest you pick this up.

I watched Ben Lee in the film The Rage In Placid Lake, which is admittedly offbeat, but he was charming. The only other CD I have by him is Breathing Tornados, which I played profusely. This CD is over a decade old and seemed like a good buy at a $2 sale. Despite having been out for quite a while, I REALLY like this music and am so glad I finally encountered it! I think it has held up well. Australian Lee at the time this CD was recorded in Los Angeles sold more in the USA than in Australia. But this disc has a lovely folk sound with acoustic guitar. "2 Sisters" has a sweet shuffle to it as Ben relates about two girls who did not get along. "Household Name" that cites Michael J. Fox and the cast of "Family Ties" may seem a bit dated now that the old series has been forgotten a bit, but it puts a smile on my face as he relates about child stars on "Different Strokes," "The Cosby Show" & "Punky Brewster". Petra Haden who does vocals on her dad's new CD Rambling Boy plays violin on the lovely "End of the World." Probably the optimism of the chorus on "New Song" makes it my favorite, "I'm gonna make through & I'm gonna do it all." This is a sweet set, well worth dusting off or discovering. Enjoy!

Although I loved Ben Lee's first solo album, Grandpaw Would, I love this album even more. Lovely melodies and highly singable lyrics. I can't shut myself up when I hear "End of the World!" And some may recognize "How To Survive a Broken Heart" from "There's Something About Mary." Mr. Lee is a very talented and this album proves it.

I have been a Ben Lee fan for years, and this is album is absolutely mesmerizing. It is mature well beyond the seventeen years Ben was when he recorded it, and I would be surprised to find one person who doesn't at least respect this man for his talent. You can't miss with this one; you'll NEVER find it doubled as a coaster or a frisbee.

This is probably the most naked feeling of Ben Lee's albums in my opinion. There aren't any fancy bells or whistles it's basically just a guy and his guitar and it is beautiful. The lyrics all feel very open and honest like he's reading straight from his diary but he isn't self-conscious about it at all. It's great, buy it.

I listen to this album all day long. I love Ben Lee. To write a masterpiece like this at ages 17 and 18 is pure genius. Highly recommended to anyone who needs a good dose of great music and great lyrics.

-Skip from the band Downinside

It's a blend of Grandpaw Would and Breathing Tornadoes, so it has the refined and complex nature of BTs AND the brilliant simplicity that was so great about GW. The combination comes out folky and easy to enjoy. Even his song that is made up of only his voice (and no instruments) is beautiful.