Recent Entries

Listen to Ben LIVE on The Josie Show!

March 23, 2011

Listen to Ben's interview on The Josie Show LIVE April 29th at 7:00 pm CST.

To listen and chat live: It will be announced in the chat room when the show is starting.  Click RELOAD PLAYER, then press play.  To chat as a guest, enter a username without a password or register from the forums.

To call in LIVE:  646-381-4339

If you want Ben to answer a question for you on the air, call or text 224-208-8315.  Notice: please call or text 24 hours or more in advance.

Nashville/California Receives 4 Stars

March 10, 2011

Reviewed by Andrew Greenhalgh

Art is often times a collaborative effort.  Consider Bono without The Edge or Mick Jagger without the counterpoint of Keith Richards.  Even Leonardo da Vinci needed a Mona Lisa.  This give and take, this collision of inspiration and ideas, can lead to a greater discovery, the parts coming together to create something better as a whole.  This seems to be the case with songwriter Ben Krahne’s latest release, Nashville/California.

It’s a bit odd that this is a “Ben Krahne” album, given that Krahne holds no credits on the record save for songwriting.  Yet, it’s that yeoman’s work behind the scenes that creates the sonic and lyrical template for these solid studio musicians to bring his songs to life, infusing them with their own passion and connecting points.  The songwriter is fortunate in his choice of collaborators too, as these musicians make solid contributions across the board with good if not great vocals and very polished musical stylings to breathe life into these original tracks.  It’s a mixture of sounds Krahne has composed here, yet most fall into the genre of contemporary country.  Covering the typical country tenets of love, life, and family, the songwriter brings to bear some substantial songs that could very easily slip into the country mainstream.  And, like all albums or collections, some are better than others.

Among those that succeed are “Seven Pound Baby Girl,” a warm and poignant look at fatherhood that has vocalist Ronnie Kimball singing, “Now when she's crying I'm dying/When she's smiling I see/There's nothing more important/Than little pink feet/This diaper queen with just one curl/My seven pound baby girl.”  It’s the kind of track that any parent can readily identify with and connect.  “Church for Sale” is another highlight, with a mid-tempo beat framing lyrics that best the musical composition in a tale of lost faith found. “Echoes of Sunday sermons, bring back sweet memories/As the cracked stained glass reflects, a broken man on his knees/It's hard now to remember why he ever ran away/But chance or faith led him to this forgotten place/Jesus swung a hammer, maybe he could too.” With a combination of powerful imagery and emotional connection, it is a solid calling card for Krahne.

The artist also tackles issues of love and loss with tracks like “Slipping Away From Him” and “Be The One,” while “Alcatraz” and “Like A Hurricane” providing a more upbeat take on the issue.  Krahne also delivers a classic Nashville dream on “Zero to a Hero,” seeming to encapsulate every Music Row performer’s dream of hitting in big.

Krahne does drop the ball a few times, though, most notably “Goodbye Chicago” and “Undefinable Love.”  “Goodbye Chicago” is the typical “life is tough, work is tough, I dream of leaving” kind of song but, for whatever reason, the use of Trinidad as the dream destination just doesn’t connect with this listener.  It’s just a bit off the beaten path.  “Undefinable Love” simply lacks connection due to an outdated musical styling, bringing a tried and true duet approach to this tale of love and leaving listeners flat.

The overall effect of Ben Krahne and Co.’s Nashville/California is a good one.  Krahne was wise in his choice of collaborators and they do his work justice, breathing life into these words and allowing them to fly.  Krahne’s done his job very well, too, penning tracks that conjure up compelling imagery and concepts that touch the heart.  With a little more work on the musical end, Krahne might soon score that hit song that he’s been after.

Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5)

Nashville/California Album Review

September 20, 2010

I received an email from Ben inviting me to come listen and review his CD online. It will be available at CD Baby at some point but for now you can listen at  http://www.nashvillecalifornia.com/music 

And listen you should! 

There's plenty of music “out there”...out there meaning...Indie Artists who are writing, performing, getting demos done, co -writing, singing spending hard earned $$$....etc. and a lot of the music isn’t worth shaking a stick at but then there are those that are worthy of listening to....Nashville California is such a CD.

Top notch writing, production and singing can be expected on Ben Krahne’s lastest contemporary country accomplishment. Ben’s done it right and....

Right off the bat “Point Of No Return” a co write with Donna Aylor says sit up and take notice. A sad tale of love’s final decision. It’s over but then on the next track it goes steppin into another song of love lost with “Zero To A Hero”. There is a “hopeful ending” though. This tune is another co write with Donna and recently passed Songramp artist Ed Ramsey. How nice of Ben to have that included! A keeper.

“You only live about 40 years... if you don’t count sleep” Some clever lines on track 4 “Count Sleep”.

A very timly offering is track 5 “ Slipping Away From Him” A co write with Mike Daniels. “He’s scratchin, an fightin, an scramblin...but his future looks dim...the American dream, slippin away from him”. Heart hitting to say the least!

“Like A Hurricaine”...track 6 has Lyle Lovett written all over it....PITCH IT BEN and MIKE!

“Seven Pound Baby Girl”......cute as can be.
"Good Bye Chicago"( Hello Trinidad ).......saying good bye to the cold...and hello to the tropics for a much need break. Wished for a Steel drum on this but it gets it’s point across regardless.

Ben, Donna Aylor and Songramps Blake Hill join up together on  “Just Around The Bend”...this one you’ll have to get your tissues out for sure folks! “Slow Down Girl” track 16 is another one they all wrote together on also.....enjoyed the video of this on Ben’s web site.

"Alcatraz" is a sure to be favOrite.... “I Left my heart in San Francisco...but it’s locked up in Alcatraz”....a bit of a blusy number, written by Ben himself as well as “Me”, “I keep On Hanging On” and “Undefinable Love”. A classic, timeless sound on this duet with Julie Chapman and Darryl O’Donnell.
Why a bunch of Ben’s tunes aren’t on the radio is beyond me....I caught myself humming a few of his tunes the next day and the next day.....after listening.....that’s a GOOD sign folks.

All songs recorded at Magicshack Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Great job guys!!

Produced by Jason Roller magicshackdemos.com Thumbs up!!

Other shout outs to....
Craig Brickhard. Vocalists, Kalii Palmer, and Ronnie Kimball. Band members Jason Roller
guitars, bass, fiddles, mandolins, Ken Soper keyboards, Nic Milliner drums.

Much of the proceeds will be going to http://www.camillian-rayong.org

And as Ben says from his web site....
“Nashville California is a collection of songs written on life’s events unfolding and put in perspective by music.”

There ya have it....or if you don’t.... you SHOULD!

All in all..........well done!

Thanks Ben...keep creating!