Ben Cooley Hall: Owning Up to a Life (CD on Caunounicus Records)

Band: Ben Cooley Hall
Label: Caunounicus Records
Title: Owning Up to a Life

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Band:Ben Cooley Hall
Title:Owning Up to a Life
Reviewed By:Anthony Middleton
Date Published:12/12/2009

Label:Caunounicus Records
Format:CD
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This is one of these funny records that I hated on the first listen, but with a couple more plays found myself, if not loving it, then at least admiring and wanting to listen again. This is largely due to a large slice of playfulness and quirky humour, both lyrical and musical, which runs like a seam of gold through the delicate folk terrain. There are a scattering of great melodic songs such as 'Sunny Day', a jaunty Randy Newmanesque piano driven piece that is, of course, less sunny that it first appears, although this is disguised this with legions of horns. 'Come to Care' is more delicate, with Cooley Hall’s not particularly strong voice struggling to match the quality of his songwriting.

At times the quirky inventiveness threatens to overspill into grating odd-for-the-sake-of-odd territory. This never really happens and is perhaps always saved by the quality of the musicianship (most of the instruments are played by the man himself) and the fine, catchy pop instinct that is refined by the alt.country accents. 'Dependable Downer' is an infectious powerful song, sort of reminiscent of Weezer and other smart aleccy American college bands. 'Untrue' is a more direct emotional song with appropriate country style backing.

The album has three short pieces, or 'Dream Excerpts', which give the album a structure and variation which adds to the overall sense of a musician attempting, and largely succeeding, to produce a musically varied album, but one which works as a whole.

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Offbeat, but ultimately compelling debut album from Rhode Island-based singer-songwriter, Ben Cooley Hall

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Owning Up to a Life - CD
Offbeat, but ultimately compelling debut album from Rhode Island-based singer-songwriter, Ben Cooley Hall

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