CD of the Week: Ben Lee

BEN LEE
"RIPE"
(New West, 2007)

Why the hell hasn't Ben Lee become a household name and a multi-platinum-selling superstar by now? He ought to be, 'cause he makes much better music than half of the recording artists who regularly inhabit the Top 40. Maybe it's because his lyrics aren't usually exceptionally profound. Maybe it's because his songs aren't especially angry or sexy or sullen. Maybe it's because he doesn't have pinup-model good looks. Well, as he effectively demonstrates on this, his sixth disc, none of the above are necessary ingredients for a thoroughly enjoyable, Top-40-worthy album.

"Ripe" may not have been intended as a sequel to his previous album, "Awake Is The New Sleep", but it feels like one. Everything that made that album a total delight to listen to is present here: the gently head-bobbing tunefulness of the melodies, and the lyrics with dashes of impish wit in the verses and sing-along simplicity in the choruses. The songs are all great, but some of my early favorites are "Birds And Bees" (a lovely little love song that stops short of being treacly thanks to Ben's effervescent vocal interplay with guest Mandy Moore), "Numb" (an almost Tin-Pan-Alley-inspired romp), "Love Me Like The World Is Ending" (a worthy descendant of sorts to "Gamble Everything For Love", my favorite song from his last album), "Just Say Yes" (a rousing anthem for life and love), and the engaging and cleverly-written ballad "So Hungry".

I'd love to see Ben achieve massive success because I think he deserves it, but I'm sure he's quite content with the cozy feel of an independent-label recording contract and a modest cult-like following of fans. Plus, I hate to think of what effect major-label meddling could have on the purity of his music. Besides, when an artist has people like Mandy Moore, Rooney, and Rachael Yamagata making guest appearances on his albums, it's not like he isn't feeling loved.