Ben 92 Posted February 7, 2018 Tell me which one is your favorite! i had to go with my Kite cuz the songs are the newest. but they're all my babies and it's hard to pick just one... On My Way was damn good though... Mike Stroud from Ratatat on lead guitar... he's in the right speaker and i'm in the left speaker. check out the solo on "Ann Disaster" and "The Rules" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dyl 19 Posted February 8, 2018 I have so much love every single album, it feels insane to choose! I voted Sha Sha, because it has been the soundtrack to my life and heart for so many years, but I feel like I’m turning my back on all the other beautiful babies Some of My Fav Highlights on Every Other Album: Freak Out its- That OG Version of Walk On Me is engrained as a part of me On My Way- The RIGHTEOUS pre chorus into the hook in I Need You Back The *feels* in My Apartment Ben Kweller- Let’s be clear, this is an empirically perfect album, so it’s difficult to pick any singular moment— the flow, the songs, everything. It forever reminds me of summertime bike rides and being madly in love The structure of Run The pure love of Sundress The euphoria in “OF SOMETHING GOOD, OF SOMETHING GREAT” in Penny on a Train track Changing Horses- Sawdust Man sounds like it could be a Harry Nielsen song. That jangly piano, the song structure…it’s all brilliant. Go Fly A Kite— Jealous Girl’s perfect pop melody THOSE HARMONIES IN GOSSIP. I’ll never get over them. Thanks for all the years of rad jams, Kwells. It’s so wonderful to see you back in the world again 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben 92 Posted February 8, 2018 well first of all @Dyl .... YOU JUST MADE MY DAY!!!!! not only are you the first person other than me and my web dudez to post a comment on the new message board, but i love your in depth analysis of my entire discography. EPIC. yes they are babies... your babies too. we love them all. haha hashtag Harry Nielsen!!! OG version of "Walk On Me"???? yer a true Kwellerhead through and through... 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BeachBoyNick 3 Posted February 8, 2018 Tough choice for sure, I’m going for BK album, such a great feel to the album. love the others too though...? 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfhoundjesse 2 Posted February 8, 2018 My two favorite BK songs are on On My Way, but Ben Kweller is usually the album I queue up first, and it's the album I use to introduce you to people that need some feelgood music in their lives. Believer has some of my favorite lyrics coupled with that sweet, sweet melody, and it's the first song of yours that I immediately had to grab my axe and learn. I really dig the diminishing drumbeat in Down, not forgetting the balls-to-the-wall section near the end. Power! I have personally given Red Eye my best many, many times on a late night drive. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dyl 19 Posted February 8, 2018 1 hour ago, wolfhoundjesse said: Ben Kweller is usually the album I queue up first, and it's the album I use to introduce you to people that need some feelgood music in their lives. Totally with you! Ben Kweller is generally my intro-album. I spent several years working in a cute boutique in Ohio where I was often in charge of making the playlists. I snuck in a LOT of Kweller jams, but especially tracks off self-titled. I would just WATCH the customers get happier when they’d hear Run or I’ve Gotta Move or any of those sunshiney tracks— and would often get asked what would playing. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldHat 28 Posted February 9, 2018 This is tough because the first full length album has marinated in our mind holes for longer. That shit is tender and you don’t even need a knife to cut into it. Love all of them though. Here are my rankings (best first): sha sha Ben Kweller On My Way Go Fly A Kite Changing Horses Even though it’s last, I have a soft spot for Changing Horses. A great batch of tracks. Ben needs to do a sequel to that one. I know he has more country kicking around up there waiting to get loose 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JulYEAH 4 Posted February 10, 2018 (edited) They are all so great! I started listening to Sha Sha when I was in middle school and one of my best friends moved away. I was so sad about this but this album totally helped me out! I remember loving the line I’m maxed out like a credit card! This album also inspired me to learn to play guitar and I got one the following Christmas. So thanks for that! On my Way reminds me of driving around in the desert in Phoenix when I was in high school. I blasted that one in my 1999 Nissan Altima and I actually crashed it while listening to your tunes in Tucson because I was so into it. No harm was done though! Then I studied abroad in college in England and will always associate the Ben Kweller album with sitting on a train going through England and watching the green through the window. It really was over hills and over dales! And then when I got married my husband and I danced to Thirteen. Changing horses, I was working a brand new pediatric nurse at children’s national medical center in Washington DC and was STRESSED AS SHIT. My job was so stressful but your music helped me cope with the stress of my job. Now I am a psychiatric nurse working with depressed teens in Berkeley, CA and every now and then I get to bust out a little guitar and get to teach these young kids about Ben Kweller. It usually makes them smile. You kick so much ass! Your music motivates and inspires me still. THANK YOU!!!! Edited February 10, 2018 by JulYEAH 3 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jbran86 1 Posted February 10, 2018 What about Radish??? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superbean 3 Posted February 10, 2018 I'm gonna go with Ben and say "Go Fly a Kite" because it's the most recent album. I also have a strong emotional attachment to it because my father passed away that February 2012 and I remember listening to it in my CD player on endless shuffle. Favorite tracks are "Justify Me" and "Mean To Me," and "Free." The world needs new BK STAT!! Steve 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben 92 Posted February 10, 2018 Good call @Jbran86! I’ll create a radish poll next!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henry 1 Posted February 10, 2018 Go Fly a Kite! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willyeklof 1 Posted February 10, 2018 There was a point in time that I listened to the self titled album at least five times a day. Shaped so many things in my life, I was still really new to music, and I learned all of the tracks and would imitate them, and it's led me down some amazing paths that I don't think I would've gone down had I not had such a burning love for that album. Penny on the train track is one that we jam all the damn time. There aren't a lot of tracks that me and my old pals all know collectively, but that one.. when we're all chillin together in a room, is always an amazing sing along song. That and Sundress. I learned how to play music off this album, and I couldn't be more grateful. Also, like many have mentioned already, it's so hard to choose just one. After I listened to the self title, I went back through the whole catalog, which I had previously not heard besides "In Other Words" (which is the first song I figured out on the piano.) And Lizzy with the picking.. I'm tellin you man, you taught me everything I needed to know to learn music. You're music has changed my life in so many ways. Not trying to be the dick that talks about his own musical growth on a public forum about Ben, just wanting to share how much he's inspired me to be an artist in a world where most people hate on artists, especially when they're in the aspiring stages. Much love though, my intent is only to share goodness, and boost up and thank Ben Kweller for having had such an impact. Willy 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben 92 Posted February 10, 2018 Yo @Henry! dont forget to put your vote in for Kite up top!!! :-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guitwiz 13 Posted February 10, 2018 I feel pretty lonely saying Changing Horses is my favorite. Sha Sha was life-changing when I first heard it. It came to me about the same time as Neutral Milk Hotel, Weezer, Ben Folds and Sufjan Stevens... It opened up a world outside of the top 40 radio. The S/T brought me back to those feelings. And my girlfriend at the time was really into On My Way (joyous High School memories!). But Changing Horses was absolutely amazing. I remember sitting in a car with friends and reading the liner notes. Something about Ben growing up in Texas (?) and being raised on country music. You can't escape your roots sometimes. Yadda yadda. I'm from Arkansas, so I can relate. My grandma took me to school every morning from 3rd to 7th grade and we'd listen to Merle, George, Conway and all the other classic "real country." Hearing Changing Horses was a revelation though. It was a blend of that "indie" music that I had come to listen to, with what I grew up on. It was a statement to me that I didn't have to be ashamed of the country music I grew up on. Not to mention the fact that it was REALLY great. Time for me to pull out CH and give it another spin! It's been too long. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldHat 28 Posted February 10, 2018 38 minutes ago, guitwiz said: I feel pretty lonely saying Changing Horses is my favorite. Sha Sha was life-changing when I first heard it. It came to me about the same time as Neutral Milk Hotel, Weezer, Ben Folds and Sufjan Stevens... It opened up a world outside of the top 40 radio. The S/T brought me back to those feelings. And my girlfriend at the time was really into On My Way (joyous High School memories!). But Changing Horses was absolutely amazing. I remember sitting in a car with friends and reading the liner notes. Something about Ben growing up in Texas (?) and being raised on country music. You can't escape your roots sometimes. Yadda yadda. I'm from Arkansas, so I can relate. My grandma took me to school every morning from 3rd to 7th grade and we'd listen to Merle, George, Conway and all the other classic "real country." Hearing Changing Horses was a revelation though. It was a blend of that "indie" music that I had come to listen to, with what I grew up on. It was a statement to me that I didn't have to be ashamed of the country music I grew up on. Not to mention the fact that it was REALLY great. Time for me to pull out CH and give it another spin! It's been too long. One of my favorite records on vinyl that I own. That was a great pressing. I’m gonna go pull that out now...perfect for a rainy day. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
guitwiz 13 Posted February 10, 2018 Still get chills... "I'll be your glove, I'll be your scarf, I'll be the cross that covers your heart. But I don't want you to get tired of me honey, after such a good start." 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bradotts 1 Posted February 10, 2018 BK finding his country voice is still my fav. I have all of them and Sha Sha definitely has a deep place in my heart, but there is something about hearing someone who doesn't identify as a "country" artist, to interpret those songs in their way (I.e, Karl Blaugh, Teddy Thompson, BK , etc) that is just so magical. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
klovescoffee 2 Posted February 11, 2018 I have to go with Sha Sha because it was my first BK album and I loved the lyrics - poignant, funny, clever. Plus the piano & rhythm/syncopation on How It Should Be. Senior year of high school/early college. Also ACL in 2003. (I think Taylor Hanson was backstage with his first kid, which kind of blew my mind, haha.) Thanks for signing my hat, BK! Self titled gets honorable mention because it's the one that got my sister onto the bandwagon. We jammed out together at the ACL set. (2007?) <3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jfra 16 Posted February 11, 2018 (edited) I'm going to take this seriously and listen to all of the albums again before I just go with my first instinct. I'm almost halfway through Ben Kweller, and it struck me that the drums sound better produced than on the first two albums. It's not the playing, of course (JDK is one of my favorite drummers of all-time), but the drums on the first two sound more distant. On self-titled, they're more thumpy and present, which I like better myself. Any insight, BK? I also realized in my research that I don't own a physical copy of Ben Kweller. WTF?! Edited February 11, 2018 by jfra 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roboJeff 0 Posted February 11, 2018 (edited) I picked Go Fly A Kite! Although Sha Sha is a close 2nd. To me, Kite is (this far) Ben’s “Career Album”. The songs are solidly amazing thoughout and it captures pieces of the entire genre span of Ben’s career as a solo artist - rock, folk, indie, county, blues... Often, Kite combines elements of every previous album into a single song. When I want to really show a new fan what BK is all about, I put on my Go Fly a Kite vinyl and set up the Lizzy art panorama by the record player! ❤️ Edited February 11, 2018 by roboJeff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bigbagofnothing 6 Posted February 12, 2018 I picked On My Way for personal reasons. My buddy burned me a copy of it and i popped it in, waiting for "that song with that "sex reminds her of eating spaghetti" song". I waited, track after track. Ultimately, i was disappointed bc that song wasn't on this album but dang this was a freaking awesome album with catchy tunes and deep lyrics. then when i learned how to play on my way on guitar, it was on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shashashadont 1 Posted February 12, 2018 Come on man, I can't make a decision like this! no solution 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmvdor 1 Posted February 12, 2018 While I'll never forget hearing Sundress for the first time on myspace and becoming an instant fan, I can't help but say Changing Horses is my favorite. That record blew my mind. It was the country/folk BK album I never knew I needed. It also probably has my favorite album art of all the records (Go Fly A Kite's diorama is a close second). 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OldHat 28 Posted February 12, 2018 14 minutes ago, kmvdor said: While I'll never forget hearing Sundress for the first time on myspace and becoming an instant fan, I can't help but say Changing Horses is my favorite. That record blew my mind. It was the country/folk BK album I never knew I needed. It also probably has my favorite album art of all the records (Go Fly A Kite's diorama is a close second). I agree on CH’s album art. I have always wanted a Changing Horses 2 with red album art and a similar motif. Ben’s voice sounds so good over country tunes...although it sounds good over all kinds of tunes. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites