Kweller’s latest country-dipped record surprises

So he’s abandoned the rock style for something country-fried. He’s dropped the one-man band for… So he’s abandoned the rock style for something country-fried. He’s dropped the one-man band for an ensemble. But it’s still Ben Kweller. ‘ ‘ ‘ Changing Horses has the narrative thread, that boyish croon and those feelings that just won’t go away. It’s just a little twangy and just a little sweet. It’s just enough to make you like country. Just this once. ‘ ‘ ‘ Still, you’ll miss the ‘Ann Disaster’ Kweller, just a little. Or a lot, if those chords have the effect on you they should. Then, it was something to fill your head. Not necessarily churning out the poetry 24/7, but more than making up for the lack of heavy words with friendly ‘mdash; or slightly angry ‘mdash; electric riffs. ‘ ‘ ‘ The influences present in Changing Horses have always been there. We saw it in Sha Sha’s ‘Family Tree,’ a subtle fusion of light, heavy and twangy or in the stripped down ‘Lizzy.’ Even the title track of On My Way gave a glimpse into Kweller’s future. ‘ ‘ ‘ But those subtle cues were not enough to predict the country-boy attire he dons in the ‘Fight’ video. We’re talking shirtless fishing and boating and wearing an unbuttoned, plaid shirt to get your buddy out of jail. Not to mention the trailer-tastic photos to go along with this persona. If you can accept and see past this quirky style, not much has changed. ‘ ‘ ‘ This is how country should be. It’s everything Kweller, with a little something extra. Every so often someone releases an album that blurs borders. ‘ ‘ ‘ There are your country singers like Toby Keith with their tales of bars, boots and cowboy hats. Then there’s your Ben Kweller doing country. People who like country will like his music because it’s got that familiar twang and songs about hurtin’. People who hate country will like it because it’s still our good old Ben Kweller. ‘ ‘ ‘ Try not to like Changing Horses. Not an easy task. Even if you loathe every twang that rings in your ears, you can’t stay mad at Ben. The album shows a little more vocal range than the basic riff-accompanying shout. It would be tragic not to hear those high notes, rich with emotion and skillfully delivered. ‘ ‘ ‘ When you hear his apologetic serenades, any feelings of distaste melt away. ‘Ballad of Wendy Baker’ takes on a cleaner tone with the same emotional expressions, still keeping with the style of the album, but accentuating the solitary bass notes and a soft vocal run from Kweller. In an interview with Stereogum, he revealed that this song was written in his younger days about the death of a girl from his high school. The mature sound fits with the somber subject. ‘ ‘ ‘ But the music doesn’t dwell on the difficult aspects of life. It is still rich with songs for his sweetheart. You see the dedication through the words, ‘I get the butterflies and the shiver spine,’ putting his own take on the tendency to express love in cutesy images. When he sings, ‘Won’t you ple-ee-ee-ease come home?’ you’ll reply with ‘Yes, yes I will,’ and smile to yourself at the playful song. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Hurtin’ You’ ‘mdash; which isn’t referring to spouse-inflicted injury ‘mdash; and ‘Wantin’ Her Again’ ‘mdash; which once refers to digging holes to get rid of the problem ‘mdash; might make you wonder what the deal is with dropping the consonants at the end of words. ‘Hurtin’ You’ shows our country singer’s smooth high notes at their best and just makes you want to smile and get through the tough times. ‘ ‘ ‘ The release of Changing Horses doesn’t have to be a frightening experience for fans of the electric guitar-toting Ben Kweller. He’s pulled through by keeping to the core of his musical values. If it weren’t for the irresistible, youthful vocals for which Kweller is known, we may have a different situation here. ‘ ‘ ‘ Changing Horses just goes to show that he could probably go from pop to death metal to everything in between and still make you smile.