Ben Lee, 'The Rebirth of Venus'

The buzz: Though best known in the States for his incontrovertable power over beautiful starlets (he's now married to Ione Skye, and used to date Claire Danes), Aussie songwriter Ben Lee has been a music-biz favorite for over a decade thanks to smart, melodic songwriting that favors simple melody over complex grit. According to him, “The Rebirth of Venus” is his most “feminine” album—proven by songs like “I'm a Woman Too” and “Song for the Divine Mother of the Universe.”

The verdict: Frustratingly uneven, “The Rebirth of Venus” is at times sheer, sweet pop prowess (just try to deny the urge to sing along with “What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)?”) and at other times, just overproduced pap (“Bad Poetry”). For every piano-pop treasure such as “Sing,” there's a song like “Wake up to America”—a misguided rumination on our country's possibly imperialist overseas policies. Lee would benefit from sticking to the call-and-response choruses he does best, and leave the politicizing to someone—anyone. Hey, for that, even Ben Folds does it better.

Did you know? The electro-sounding sample on “What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)?” is actually pots and pans being banged on by Skye's 7-year-old daughter. 

Add a comment