CD Review

Rockers Ben Lee and Ben Folds look almost alike. Upon glancing on the cover of the four song compilation The Bens, you’d think this is some kind of family hodgepodge affair. Throw in Ben Kweller to the mix and you have a Benjamin friendly compilation with quite the clever band name. After touring Australia together as solo artists in the early 2003 Bens Tour; Kweller, Folds, and Lee put together this ditty of four quick, pop shiny numbers that follow with distinction, yet leave with desire.

Successfully falling in line with 80’s synth rock and 70’s AM Rock nuggets of yesterday, it's a condensed album, but the music inevitably sounds a bit rushed. The brief collection undoubtedly mimics each of the Ben's personal style, and the individual contributions stand on their own, yet notably absent is Folds’ frenzied piano playing – opting in favor of a more abstract rock affair. Still, the final song, "Bruised," makes the most precise statement, as Folds’ sings self-confessionally of his typical down and out battles with love and the game of life.

For a glorified EP, this isn’t exactly great stuff, though there’s nothing really deficient here either. Truth be told, only a suitable full-length will probably let this band's name shine to its full potential.