Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

The countdown is over! After poring over all the wonderful albums released this year, and analyzing their plusses and minuses in excruciating detail, we have arrived at our #1 album of 2008.  I present to you Ben Sollee:

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This is what I wrote about Sollee after initially listening to his album Learning to Bend: “If I had a dime for every Andrew Bird comparison made to your ‘run-of-the-mill’ esoteric singer-songwriter, I’d probably have something like $5.00.  But think about it, that’s a lot of dimes.  I was ready to add another 10 cent piece to my piggy bank when I heard the hype about the chamber/string folk-pop rock that artist Ben Sollee was pushing on his Learning to Bend.  I decided to give Sollee a try, intrigued by his Kentuckian roots and his interesting album title–I was immediately captivated.  Apparently, Learning to Bend is representative of a grand metaphor, as Sollee was inspired by the way in which the seemingly frail cattails near his home could survive the harsh winds of each passing day.”

In a year where everything from politics to the economy to my own personal situation has been in a state of near constant flux, Sollee’s album has taken on ever more pertinence.  Learning to Bend is not just an album title, but rather the mantra by which Sollee lives. And with his silky smooth voice and instantly gratifying banjo and violin, Sollee has the listener believe that learning to bend is indeed the only way to live.

Opening his album with “A Few Honest Words”, Sollee establishes himself as an earnest and politically motivated troubadour from the outright.  His voice gentle but not strong, his words pertinent but not pithy, his vocal talents must be heard to be truly appreciated.  But it’s also impossible to ignore Sollee’s mettle and skill with stringed instruments.  “Bury Me With My Car” features a rich, concerted violin over the fast-paced country-soul of the track.  “It’s Not Impossible” begins with the swaying of Sollee’s voice, that magically breaks out into a strumming banjo and a delicate saxophone–a strange concoction that becomes a tremendous elixir. “How to See the Sun Rise” is a waltzy pop number, irresistibly fun and engaging.  His remake of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come” is beautifully and enchantingly reinterpreted through the eyes of a songwriter that sees the world through his strings. Thinking back to the album title, it seems as though he’s saying that if we, the audience, can learn to be as accommodating and flexible as his strings, surely we are affirming our existence.  But in the end, all it is really about is the artist connecting with his audience–he’s made a fan out of me, and certainly you will be next. It’s okay to lose those 10 cents once in a while.

Do yourself a favor.  Buy a copy of Learning to Bend.

Listen to “It’s Not Impossible”

Listen to “A Change is Gonna Come“