Ben Kweller - 'On My Way' (RCA)
4/5
By: Matt Tomiak
He may only be in his early-20s, but Ben Kweller is a veritable musical veteran, having formed the cult power pop trio Radish in his native Texas, fronted when barely out of elementary school.
2002's underrated 'Sha Sha', Kweller's solo debut, was a fetching, DIY indie-pop gem, but 'On My Way' sees Ben come into his own.
For it's hard not to be utterly charmed by the shaggy-haired troubadour slacker on this delightful little album, as he muses on life's Big Questions in his endearingly languid drawl to miscellaneous ramshackle accompaniments. Like our old mate Graham Coxon, he's possessive of both laudable pop nous as well as a punkish temerity.
He's also, quite simply, a great songwriter. Despite opening with the less-than-touching couplet 'I want to kill this man, but he turned around and ran/I'll kill him with karate that I learned in Japan', the title-track develops into a tune possessing 'Waterloo Sunset' levels of genuinely affecting wistful nostalgia. The lovely 'Living Life' demonstrates an exquisite 'Hey Jude' craft, whilst 'My Apartment' is a worthy successor to Weezer's legendary paean to seclusion and solitude, 'In The Garage'.
So go on, treat yourself to a bit of the BK: it's not a decision you'll be repentant for.
Artists in this article: Ben Kweller
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