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I am a Los Angeles-based twentysomething. I have a profession, and I have a secret life in music, and this blog isn't about any of that. I like Blogger because I can't read what you're thinking.

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Friday, July 9   >>

RAWK

That's all one can say about Ben Kweller's latest, On My Way. This wannabe-review is long overdue as the release of the album was practically 2 months ago and because I just got it only 2 or 3 weeks ago. Let's just say that some people give some really good graduation presents.

When the album came out, all I heard was, "Yeah, it's kinda okay. I mean, it isn't great." Oh contrare; this album is great. It's fun. Then I realized the majority of people I heard these comments from were persons who think all music should be intellectually inclined. Bullshit. This album is fun and just kicks so much ass.

The first track "I Need You Back" is one of the best Kweller tunes, and believe you me, I've heard 'em all. Even the Radish era, which really sucked. Shocking, isn't it?

The album loses a bit of momentum with a couple of mediocre tracks, but the overall goal for this record is achieved. If you heard Sha Sha (his debut solo album), you would consider this a sequel. Sha Sha was a coming-of-age novel, with songs about moving from Texas to the Big Apple and trying to fit into a place which is ....kinda weird. This one is very much about settling in the N-Y-C.

...and then the usual handful of songs about love, loss and all the in-betweens.

How a guy can rock so much ...rocking ass is hard to fathom when he fits in "la la las" and "ba ba bas" with bubbly keys and a majority set of songs in common major keys.

Nothing he's released exceeds his live act, though. It's incredible. Simply friggin' incredible.

It's raw, fun to sing along with and like I said before, rocks so much ass it's not even funny. Listen to it loud or don't listen to it at all.

If you actually aren't lazy and happen to pick it up, try to pick up the little nuances. They're like easter eggs he left for his fans with open ears. They're pretty subtle but easy to catch. It makes listening to this album such a fun experience.

Kudos. Major, major, major fucking kudos. What an incredible musician and lyricist. I'll never get over how talented Ben Kweller is.