Tintinnabulant

I would just like to start off this post by saying it’s kinda weird writing a review of someone whom I think will actually read it. But it’s also kinda cool. And I got a free CD out of the deal (the second ever in my blogging career), so that pretty much makes it all better. Therefore, without further ado, Indigo by Ben Garner:

Ben and brother Jacob (left)

Allow me to start this review with a story. For the majority of my freshman year of college, I did not have my own car and thus had to depend on friendly car owners for rides. I spent the greatest amount of time in my friend Victoria’s car, and there I heard a lot of Jack Johnson. Think In Between Dreams on repeat. She loved it…and honestly, I wished I did. I mean, what could be better than a man with a guitar? And while I think Jack is a superb musician, most of his songs fall into the “nice” category for me, which basically means while I can appreciate them while other people are playing them, these songs will probably never get any play time on my iPod (there are a few, though, that I actually do call up every once in a while and very much enjoy). I actually have on at least one occasion tried to get into Jack Johnson by playing everything I own of his (two albums and a couple live tracks), but I lost interest pretty quickly.

Jumping a few years back to high school, I had a good friend then that was obsessed with John Mayer–okay, maybe mildly obsessed; she wasn’t really a stalker. We went to concerts together–or rather, she took me to concerts–so I tried to align my musical tastes with hers (I had not yet discovered my own enthusiasm for music). I could do Coldplay and Dave Matthews Band, but (I’m sorry, Al) I had a hard time with John (and I really couldn’t do Hanson, but that is another story). It was another case of liking specific tracks but finding no interest in the whole, however romantic and soulful.

Finally, on to this summer, the second time in my life when I had to put restrictions on the music played in my car (the first being when I took Johnny Cash off my iPod because I could not stand to hear “I Walk the Line” there even one more time). This time it was Jason Mraz & Eric Hutchinson, due my 14-year-old sister Catherine’s growing obsession (and this one really was an obsession, I think) with the two artists. Maybe I had heard them playing too much in our house; maybe I wanted to choose to listen to them instead of being subjected to their music, I don’t know, but I just couldn’t get into them, and this perplexed me. They are good artists, and they write good songs, but only a few made it into my Top Rated, and the rest I never bothered to listen to (and rather blanched at the thought of doing so).

All this to say, I’m pretty sure that for whatever reason, I am not the biggest fan of the acoustic-y heartthrob music for which most girls go batty. I like mine more with a side of banjo, mandolin, violin, or glockenspiel (or all four) or with a slightly grittier feel (think Damien Rice, Glen Hansard, and Bon Iver). Ben Garner happens to produce music that is often more like the former, which actually seems to indicate that he will have a very successful career because after all, there is one of me and millions of Victorias, Als, and Catherines.

That being said, I actually enjoyed Indigo–it made for some very pleasant car music–but I definitely liked the songs that offered a bit more than man and guitar the best. Actually, I would like to interject that I love the guitar in virtually every song on the album; Ben has mad skills, for sure (Just try listening to “Secrets to Rome” and tell me that’s not true). I also really like the guitar in “No One Calls My Name,” which has refreshingly blues-meets-the-Outback vibe that makes it one of my favorites. “The Cycle” is another good track, featuring lilting guitar and djembe, as well as what are probably my favorite vocals on the album. “Wide Open Eyes” is probably my favorite of Ben’s quieter tracks–it’s definitely a great one for driving along and thinking about life (and I am always up for a good car song). I’d have to say my personal favorite on the album was the hidden track, “Tribal Song.” As some of you may know, I have quite a collection of theme-y-instrumental-music-from-around-the-world-Lifescapes-type CDs, as well as the soundtracks to both Riverdance and Lord of the Dance and a fairly large assortment of French West African music, so anything vaguely African or Celtic (or BOTH) definitely appeals to me. I’m pretty sure I had a huge smile on my face for the entirety of the first time I heard this song.

On a final note, all of this is better live (as I bet it would be for Jack, John, Jason, and Eric), so if you are ever in the Tulsa area, and Ben is playing, go see him! You will not be disappointed. [Catherine, I am talking to you.]

Notable tracks: “Secrets to Rome,” “No One Calls My Name,” “The Cycle,” “Wide Open Eyes,” “Tribal Song”

And there you have it,

LisaM.