Ben Lee – Hey You. Yes You.

Artist: Ben Lee

Title: Hey You. Yes You.

Label: F2

Rating: 5/10

Company Line: “I’m trying to express on this record the same things I’m trying to express in my life right now. It’s all about leaving rough edges, keeping it dirty, not judging it” – Ben Lee

The Good:
“Run” – The one and only song on this record that could make it on radio. Take that as good or bad.
“Aftertaste” – Lee lays down a tender piece with a glimpse of strings that remind of Stevie Wonder “Pastime Paradise”.

Inbetween:
“No Room To Bleed” – Tender and touching not as powerful or potent as anything Ben Folds would give us.
“Dirty Mind” – Not entirely bad. One thing that you’ll notice is how it sounds like a broken record with the refrain over and over again.
“Something Borrowed, Something Blue” – The kind of song you hear once and say “this is okay” and then never listen to it again.

The Ugly:
“Running With Scissors” – Who sings about running with scissors, other than Weird Al?

Frankly: Ben Lee is the art-rock type rock-n-pop that doesn’t seem to go over well in many circles. Whereas Ben Folds mixes in epic choruses and a wonderful sense of humor, Ben Lee offers timid choruses and blank emotions. Hey You. Yes You. didn’t bore me nor move me, it’s the sort of record you buy and find it collecting dust a few years later.

+ Rae Gun