Ben Kweller Embraces Texas Roots on Changing Horses
Ben Kweller has tons of indie rock cred, with a handful of solo albums and a well-received collaboration with Ben Folds and Ben Lee (a.k.a. the Bens). However, his new album, Changing Horses, might surprise some of his longtime fans. It's country. (Watch the video for "Fight.")
"I went on a tour to play these songs live for my fans, and I think it's funny that a lot of them came up to me afterwards and said, ‘I hate country but I like those new songs!'" Kweller says. The 27-year-old singer-songwriter says the album was a result of "just doing what the songs told me to do. ... I just make the music that comes to me and comes out of my heart."
When he was a baby, Kweller's family moved from the Northeast to Emory, Texas, so his father could be the small town's first doctor. From there, they relocated to Greenville, Texas, where Garth Brooks was key to the soundtrack of his youth. "If you didn't have Ropin' the Wind, you were a loser," he remembers. He also says that Alan Jackson is right up there with Jimi Hendrix, as far as his musical heroes, and that it would be "one of those dream collaborations" if they ever got to work together.
Overall, Changing Horses has a loose feel, not too polished, but still easy to enjoy -- falling somewhere between Waylon Jennings and Gram Parsons and slathered with steel guitar. Kweller, who now lives in Austin after nine years in New York, says that he's not concerned about alienating anybody who's supported his career thus far. "Most of my fans, they know that I make a wide variety of music. I'm just as likely to write a punk rock song," he says. "This time, I just decided to pick one path and go down it."
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RedMaZ says:
Caught Ben Kweller on Letterman the other night. He did a good job.
countryiscool says:
Hi Red, yet another name I need to check out???? I’m still listening to the Americana channel to familiarize myself with the artists. It will take awhile…
RedMaZ says:
Hi countryiscool, that’s great you’re still checking out new music. Ben Kweller was a new one for me too. Just happened to catch him on Letterman. Loose Roots music with an edge.. Definately not for everyone. Which is fine. Steel Player was a hot picker too.
solongsowrong says:
I saw some of his music listed as punk, so I’m sure he has some edgy stuff, but what I was able to check out from his latest album, seemed tame enough. Definitely Country.
Kim says:
What is the definition of punk nowadays? that seems to be another genre losing its boundaries. Alternative and new wave get thrown around too. What does it take to be just rock?
love Ben Kweller. Texas boy, so he can really do no wrong in my eyes. A true artist, and thank God on an indie label.
I think a whole lot more people would be like those fans of his and like (at least some) country if the industry weren’t in the way pushing all this hokey crap at people. If that’s all you know about there’s good reason to hate it. country’s worst enemy is the industry itself. Seems like people respond to different genres when the music and artists don’t try to be anything they’re not. I think “cross over” artists hurt more than they help country music. guys like Ben and Robert Plant come to mind as great examples of honest artists going a new way without selling out what they were. here’s hoping for Ben’s country album!
waxi says:
OMG he is so adorable! his new album is really good, i love the fact that he’s going country.
here’s a cool interview BK interview
http://cwbayarea.com/entertainment/music