• achtergronden
• DE 7EVEN
• video's
• agenda

ernaast

Ben Kweller | Sha Sha

20-year-old Ben Kweller presents the joy of making music.
CD, Ato

Tekst: Eelco van Kappen

Publicatiedatum: 05 september 2002

Sha Sha, by Ben Kweller, is by no means one of the best records ever made. However, it does merit special mention for being one of those rare records that manages to express the joy of making music. From the exuberant opener How It Should Be, a track coyly reminiscent of the cooky Pavement B-sides of old, to the majestic, elegant closing track Falling, which is carried by a piano riff worthy of Ben Folds, there is an overwhelming sense of a musician bursting to share his art with his listeners. It is easy to imagine Kweller wearing the same silly hat that he wears on the album sleeve, sitting behind his piano, grinning to himself as he tinkers with the opening chords to How It Should Be, or to imagine the excitement he must have felt when suddenly struck by the hilariously bizarre line "Sex reminds her of eating spaghetti" (from Wasted & Ready). There is nothing here to suggest the cynicism one might expect from an artist who, with his previous band Radish, was signed and discarded by a major label, all before reaching the age of 20! Also, there is something charming about the way Kweller joyfully wears his influences on his sleeve. Commerce, TX is vintage Weezer, Walk On Me is a merry Lemonheads pastiche, and standout track Family Tree sounds like Wilco at their most introspective. If Radiohead embody the agony of making music, Ben Kweller embodies the joy. In listening to this album, one gains the profound impression of an artist perfectly at ease in his own playground of influences: Sha Sha comes highly recommended to anyone who is willing to play along.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/ben-kweller/sha-sha/1828/
Meer Ben Kweller op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/ben-kweller