Ben Lee has released the feel-good album of the year. The appropriately titled Ripe is a mature effort, bursting with happiness and good vibes.
A more cynical critic may argue that this disc is weaker for its lack of angst, but such positivity is refreshing and very easy to listen to. These critics tend to equate negativity with depth, but to dismiss Ben Lee’s newie is to miss the album’s subtleties.
He’s a very clever lyricist, and this prevents the album’s love songs from drowning in a sea of frothiness and fluff. The quirky phrases are modern and intensely believable. The single “Love Me Like the World Is Ending” is a great indication of the original romantic tunes contained on the disc. The 50s-inspired duet with Mandy Moore, “Birds and Bees,” is also really sweet.
But it’s not all about love. Lust gets a run too in the brutally honest “Sex Without Love.” Ben’s ode to an American urban megastar, “What Would Jay-Z Do?” is surprisingly more convincing than it sounds.
Ben’s ably supported by a host of stars on the disc. The pure voice of Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins complements Ben’s unique tones on many tracks. Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden lets loose with a cracking guitar solo on “Sex Without Love.” Rachel Yamagata and the members of Rooney also lend their talents to the disc. Ripe is richer for their contributions, but it never feels like Ben is trading on these famous names.
Since I bought Ripe a week ago, it hasn’t left my CD player. Every time it ends I feel the need to go back and explore it all over again. And at the end of the day, that’s the best testimony to just how good this album is.
Image source: Ben Lee website