Ever since my husband and I caught Ben Lee opening for Ben Folds Five almost a decade ago, I’ve had a thing for Lee. Back then, he was touring for the release of 1998’s Breathing Tornadoes, and I fell hook, line and singer. He’s goofy looking, has an Aussie accent that makes me swoon, and his music is sexy, fun and, at times, rockin’.
Since Breathing Tornadoes, Lee has released three albums: 2002-03’s hey you, yes you, 2005’s Awake is the New Sleep, and, most recently, 2007’s Ripe.
At the young age of 28, it’s apparent Lee has been in love (more than once?), lust, and had his heart broken into tiny little pieces, and Ripe is full of those types of heartfelt themes.
The first track, “Love Me Like the World Is Ending”, jump starts the album and sets the tone with the lyrics, “This is the first day of the future, And all I want is you.”
In addition to the first track, other swoon-able songs include “Is This How Love’s Supposed to Be?,” “Home,” “So Hungry” (which paints the picture of lust quite boldly with the lyrics “Our eyes, They meet. I won’t accept defeat. I feel, Brand new. Can’t keep my hands off you”), “Just Say Yes,” and, my personal favorite, “Blush” (which almost exudes Lee’s intensity with the lyrics “Anytime, I feel the rush, I might say something to make you blush. When all the way, is not enough, Some might say my love will make you blush”).
Fans of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” will get a kick out of Lee’s rock-y “Sex Without Love,” which is a nice blend of hair-band ballad and sexy Lee sensibility. (Interestingly enough, Good Charlotte's Benji Madden joins Lee on the chorus for this track.)
Ripe, Lee’s sixth album, is rounded out with a tribute to Beyonce’s other half titled “What Would Jay-Z Do?,” the Mandy Moore duet “Birds & Bees,” the sardonic “American Television,” and the music industry poking “Numb.”
Ironically, I like the title track, “Ripe,” the least of all 12 tracks. But that’s kind of like saying I like chocolate less than I like ice cream.
Because both desserts are fantastic, as is all of Ripe.
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