Ben Kweller is an all-around fantastic musician with a surprisingly large underground fanbase.  He’s multi-instrumentally talented, and on this and past records, he shows us his versatility in that area. His first album in 3 years, Changing Horses is a risky experiment for Kweller, transitioning from contemplative, mid-tempo piano pop to a country sound. I won’t over-pun such a title with excessive remarks regarding Kweller’s genre change on Changing Horses; although, it is easy to do. Anyhow, the switch has been made and the stage is set. All we need now are the results.

Changing Horses starts warmly; a lengthy B note, followed by Kweller’s convincing vocal slides and scoops. “Gypsy Rose,” Kweller’s opener, is a naturally successful track, utilizing traditionalistic country lyric phrases and solid, complementary rhythmic devices. The melody is sleepy, but sufficient, and is very pleasant.

Kweller’s vocal performance is respectably polished throughout Changing Horses; especially on mid-tempo, country ballad “Hurtin’ You” and bittersweet love lament “Ballad of Wendy Baker.” Not only is the way he sings refined, but what he sings is also impressive, focusing on poetic description and artistic originality. “Old Hat” exemplifies this mellifluously with lines such as “My tornado, love, tore it all down / Now I am face down in all this muddy guilt,” while the slow but steady musical accommodations really drive the emotion home.

Always considered a musician who focuses on his melodies, Kweller breaks all kind of melodic barriers on the record; first, by keeping his melodies retainable and enjoyable; second, by carefully crafting his hooks; and last, by dishing out countless surprises. “Gypsy Rose,” “Sawdust Man,” and “Fight” all exhibit strong, likable tunes, while “Wantin’ Her Again” and “Things I Like To Do” disclose hook-based melodies (both additionally appealing). He then keeps it interesting with other clever creations, like the melody in “On Her Own.”

Changing Horses is meticulously consistent, seamlessly flowing between funky, mid-tempo tunes to gospelesque anthems to evocative, heartfelt offerings. “Homeward Bound” is a compelling end cap for the brief album, and is executed carefully, tying up any and all loose ends.

The only complaint I hold against the record is its lack of personal proximity. In other words, it feels noticeably distant, especially compared to Kweller’s other works. The songs themselves are substantial enough, though, to maintain a favourable outlook on the album as a whole. For this, I give Ben Kweller credit, where it is obviously due. Country music is his roots, and Changing Horses is a very wholesome homecoming in that sense.

[ratings]

/ Posted: Feb 08, 2009
/ Written by: Matt S.
/ Category: Album Reviews
/ Artist(s): Ben Kweller