Ben Lee has been messing around with the "Vine of Souls" and has created a "sonic document" called Ayahuasca: Welcome to the Work to commemorate his experiences. Hey man, it's a rock 'n' roll rite of passage, yes? Timothy Leary would be proud. Doesn't sound as poppy as previous efforts, but it's a spiritual journey after all. He needs your help via PledgeMusic.
Get trippy here and see a scruffy Ben Lee describe the new album.
A conversation I just heard...
"Boy, the economy sucks."Well, I heard it in my head anyway. My voices aren't very bright.
"Sure does."
"It doesn't help that I gotta blow over 500 bucks on The Beatles alone tomorrow."
"Right."
"Wish bands would release their albums at no cost."
"Totally."
"Wonder why they don't."
"Dunno."
Evan Dando, Jr.'s Ben Lee's new album Ripe will be released in September."We are in the process of working through the top 25 of the 80 songs I've written, in order to choose the 18 that we will record," Lee wrote last month.
Lee is one of those pop savants that has hooks and melodies spewing out of his orifices at all times. He's quite prolific so I've never felt current with him. I'll work on changing that. I respect his non-judgmental approach to collaborations. The new album will feature contributions from Mandy Moore, a guy from Good Charlotte, the members of Rooney, Tom Petty's keyboardist, and Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins.
Stream older Lee music here. Download here.
One unsung great thing about being a parent is inflicting sharing your favorite childhood pop culture moments on with your kids. Tonight I introduced my kids to The NeverEnding Story. And they liked it, they really really liked it. My son made the same mistake I did though. Literally an hour into the movie, he called Atreyu a girl. Luckily, he had me to correct him. It took seeing the movie another three times before I figured it out.
So, the music connection? C'mon, like you need to ask. You'll be singing "The NeverEnding Stoooooreeeee" for the next 48 hours. Did you know that song was by Limahl, who has also recorded under, get ready for it, Kajagoogoo. YES! Too Shy anyone? That's a twofer. And of course there was the stellar disco mofo Giorgio Moroder soundtrack that reeked of pure 80s fantasy movie cheese. Moroder was also responsible for some music in another favorite childhood guilty pleasure, Electric Dreams (Together in Electric Dreams!! Come on, you know it! Sing along!). It'll be a few years before I subject treat my kids to that one.
Ok, so the legit too poppy reason for this post? I had Rooney's I'm Shakin' in my head through the whole movie. "This was so because I watched all day the NeverEnding Story with Atreyu." What a great pop album. What the hell happened to them? Looks like they've squandered away some good will by showing up on soundtracks. At least they toured with Ben Lee last year, but a new album might be a good thing.
Back to the movie: so how long before a remake? And I don't mean some shitty sequel that should've never been made.
