Customer Reviews

Stories Under Nails

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

 

 

I'm not really sure what the negativity of the other reviews is all about, but I'd say this is Ben's best effort yet.

He's made a geniune leap as an artist, with a transition from jug band/whiskey swillin' tunes to a more mature, bone-chilling sound. Always powerful and always honest. Give 40-watt bulb a listen and you'll hear what I mean.

I look forward to the next installment.

Weaver's oddly instrumented folk-country features the sort of percussive, disjointed sound Tom Waits created for "swordfishtrombones," together with the sort of rough-hewn, unblinking first-person narratives that made Chris Knight's "A Pretty Good Guy" so powerful. Weaver's singing mixes a dash of old-soul (ala Jack Ingram's earlier records) with a rural rendition of Tom Wait's weary downtown rasp. The guitars often careen and stab and loom, rather than strum or pick, and the sparse accompaniment of bass and drum creates backings that are often soundscapes rather than instrumental arrangements. It's a powerful combination with Weaver's words, defining a world in which even a contented relationship defines a point in time that's closer to death than to birth, and the charitable ending of a day in the city is forever poisoned by the thief at the day's start. This is challenging, depressing and disturbing music, with downbeat subjects, complex wordings, and unusual instrumentation. Fans of Waits, Knight, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and the like will likely certainly enjoy this. 3-3/4 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.

I could go on and on, about how good this is and name drop like

The percusions remind me of Waits.I have only listened to this album by Ben but plan on getting the rest..

I know you can't listen to it here, and I never buy anything without listening to it, no matter how much hype someone writes.

so find it listen to it, his website is easy to find and has a few full mp3 samples. You won't regret it, I sure as hell didn't

There should be some sort of musical knowledge and comprehension test made mandatory before you can write a review for Amazon. What did you people in the earlier reviews expect when you bought this? Ricky Martin?

This is such haunting music. It's mountain music, melancholy and slightly queasy, but still so beautiful. I can see the Nick Cave comparison, more for its moodiness than its actual structure or lyric content, though there are still similarities there. Ben's voice has much more authenticity though - Nick Cave feels contrived in comparison.

This album really takes some getting used to, but you'll find yourself going back to it repeatedly just to freak yourself out a bit. The twangy, rural-noir guitar can be quite unsettling at times.

To the second last reviewer here, I'm sorry your friend's mother didn't enjoy this. Why don't you go out and buy her something by Michael Buble.

I won't tell you how great this is and that you must buy it. I love it but I am realistic and I know many people won't and even some who may won't spend the proper amount of time to appreciate its strange beauty. I agree with comments made in the negative reviews this is not country music as you will have heard it before (don't buy it and expect Hank Williams), its not the sort of album you want to play in car with your kids and wife (unless you like annoying them!). This is the sort of album where you have to sit back take your time and listen, to appreciate where its coming from and the type of people/stories sung about in the songs. The Amazon review is right when its says the album evokes Larry Brown and Harry Crews. I would also say if you enjoy reading those two or like Daniel Woodrell's Winter's Bone or Tomato Red, or Carolyn Chute's The Beans of Egypt Maine and its follow ups, any of Willy Vlautin's books, Burroughs' Junky or countless books of short stories portraying these types of characters. Because its not just country noir it also stories of the dispossed the side of society that most of us chose to steer clear of. This album does not sound like much else but don't believe those that say its not tuneful or melodic it is but you need to be patient and let it slowly reveal its charms over repeated listens.
In other words this record is not for everyone but if you like the atmosphere conjured up by the books I mentioned then you may just be in for a treat. Musically it is difficult to compare it (maybe Tom Waits crossed with Jim White crossed with Damien Jurado) but I would say it portrays the same sort of characters and feelings summoned up by Damien Jurado, Townes Van Zandt, Richmond Fontaine, Mary Gauthier, Jim White, Ray Wylie Hubbard and of course Tom Waits. Now please understand I am not saying this sounds exactly like any of those artists but if you like them and the imagery their songs provoke then I think there is a good chance you will like this.

Was given good reviews on Sunday Morning. I threw it away it was so bad (and I like almost all music, from classics to country western).

IF I EVER GET IT, I WILL BE HAPPY TO REVIEW IT.

I can understand how people have different tastes. I can understand how people with no taste still have preferences. But I honestly cannot understand how ANYONE could like this.

The music is like that of William Shatner, while the spoken word vocals reminded me of the narration that led into commercial breaks on the old Dukes of Hazzard TV show. This guy is a redneck in full self-parody mode, trying to be a beatnik.

As I listened, my first instinct was to eject it from my car stereo and throw it out the window. Then I thought about giving it away, but I was afraid of insulting anyone I'd give it too. Out the window it went.

I honestly believe any positive review must be coming from either Ben under an alias or a record company plant. It is impossible to like this garbage.

Great song writer but hard on the ear , my kids were in the back begging me too turn it off .

My friend's mother bought him this cd recently and he hasn't talked to her since.