Away With The Pixies by Ben Lee
May 28, 2004 | 
11 Comments
The Artist: Ben Lee
The Song: Away With The Pixies
The Album: Grandpaw Would
Released 1995
I’m headed of to the Sasquatch Festival this weekend and I’m really looking forward to what really is an amazing line up.
Built To Spill, The Roots, The Postal Service, Sleater-Kinney, The Shins and this week’s artist; Ben Lee.
I was talking to my friend Cari last night about the show and I mentioned that I was excited to see Ben Lee again. I saw him back in 1996 or so, when he was oh, about, 16 years old or something, and I remember is was a great show. Plus, Granpaw Would was, scratch that, is, one of my favorite albums of all time.
She was like, “who the hell is Ben Lee?”
I knew right then who needed to be this week’s Song of The Week. I was pretty surprised that she didn’t know who Ben Lee was. I mean, she’s pretty savvy when it comes to music and, I don’t know, I thought everyone knew about Ben Lee.
Turns out I was wrong. So let me introduce you to Ben Lee.
Ben Lee put out one of the greatest pop albums ever. When he was in his early teens. For real. He’s not been as “popular” since then, but I’ve liked pretty much every album he’s put out and I still put him right up there with the best song writers around.
Granpaw Would is pure pop gold. It’s mostly just Ben and his guitar, singing goofy fun little songs that make you smile. It’s simple and in its simplicity it’s genius.
I really do like every single song on this album, I have since it came out and I will for years to come. Choosing one wasn’t too hard, any one would have been great. I decided to go with “Away With The Pixies” simply because it’s a great song that also happens to feature Liz Phair singing back up. Can’t go wrong there!
So, everyone, meet Ben. Ben, this is everyone. Oh, and by the way Ben, your Web site sucks.
Recommended if you like: Built To Spill, Ben Kweller, Jason Mraz, Badly Drawn Boy, Postal Service
Filed under: Song of The Week
Comments
1. The Lizzzard said:
It’s a nice album!
Posted on May 28, 2004 09:57 AM | #
2. eric said:
I’m headed to Sasquatch too! Should be excellent.
Posted on May 28, 2004 10:51 AM | #
3. Keith said:
Right on Eric. Well if you happen to find yourself in the Gorge Campground and you see a grey conversion van and a few pretty crazy people gettin’ pretty crazy near it, come say hi. It might be me and mine. If not, you’ll make some friends anyway huh?
Have a good time.
Posted on May 28, 2004 11:16 AM | #
4. Hardy said:
hmm … do you realy like it?
Posted on May 28, 2004 02:42 PM | #
5. dez said:
I don’t always take to your musical tastes but Ben Lee is cool. I only own Breathing Tornados but it’s one of my oft listened to CDs. (BTW he’s an Aussie, in his early days decalared his aim in life was to produce the “Great Australian Album”, was once pretty serious with Clare Danes and recently made his film debut in the Aussie film “the Rage in Placid Lakes”.)
Posted on May 28, 2004 05:02 PM | #
6. sTEVEN sTREIGHT said:
Now wait a moment. Was Ben Lee in The Pixies? The Pixies was one of the greatest rock bands ever. Way better than Nirvana. Almost as good as Joy Division.
Have fun. Forget the blog wars between design anarchists and design classicists. The good guys will win.
Posted on May 28, 2004 07:07 PM | #
7. p said:
i saw ben lee last night, with the new pornographers. he seemed like a bit of a wanker to me, draped in a bright red shawl and barely moving. he didn’t hold the audiences attention at all and his 2 bandmates were very sloppy as well. he even made a bunch of lame jokes about being available to “make out” with anyone after the show, and no one really laughed except him.
maybe the cd is much better though, i’ve not heard it.
Posted on May 28, 2004 09:09 PM | #
8. Andreas said:
I like it - itīs great
Posted on May 29, 2004 05:14 AM | #
9. MikeyC said:
“Breathing Tornados” is such an amazing record. I was just listening to it the other day.
There was an ep released awhile back called “The Bens” which featured Ben Lee, Ben Kweller and Ben Folds which actually sounds pretty good, despite the gimmick-y nature of the whole project.
Posted on May 29, 2004 06:53 AM | #
10. dan said:
Yeah, Ben Lee is cool, though he does have a reputation for being quite arrogant. I remember he declared that his Breathing Tornadoes album was ‘the greatest Australian album ever’. And Bernard Fanning, lead singer of Powerfinger, called him a ‘precocious little cunt’.
Back when i was in high school i went to a debating competiton and Ben Lee was there participating. I remember he was very good, and very funny.
Posted on May 29, 2004 11:44 PM | #
11. Maxine Sherrin said:
I really enjoyed (yet another!) under rated and largely unseen decent Aussie movie last year called “The Rage in Placid Lake” starring Ben Lee (and Rose Byrne, now of Trot fame, or infamy). While not earth shattering it was a lovely quirky little movie that I would recommend you see if you are a fan of Ben Lee’s. Didn’t run for that long around here though - but pick it up if you see it in your local video shop.
Posted on June 1, 2004 03:58 PM | #
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