Half Made Man
General
| Sep 2012
Reviews
Francis D
Reviewed 2013-01-02
Reviewed 2013-01-02
“Half Made Man” Ben Sollee
Ben Sollee’s third album finds the 29-year-old singer/songwriter taking his art in some new directions. The highly accomplished indie folk cellist has created a CD that isn’t easy to categorize, as Sollee experiments with a variety of genres. Indie folk-rock. Southern rock. Alt country. Americana. Maybe even a little pop rockabilly. His vocals are expressive and his musicianship evident on everything from the octave mandolin and guitar to his trademark cello. Sollee produced this campaign-funded release, making Half Made Man a very personal project indeed.
— Francis
Recommended: 2, 8, 5, 9, 4, 1, 10, and 3. No FCCs
1. (2:51) Whole Lot to Give — Shimmering start transitions into a catchy pop-rock number, with just a dash of fiddle. ***
2. (3:06) The Healer — Bouncy, up-tempo tune with syncopated beat and bright, ringing guitar. ****
3. (3:02) DIY — High-energy pop and rootsy rockabilly. Rudder bass drives an up-tempo pace with fiddle touches adding a bit more country flavor. **
4. (2:55) Roam in the Dark — Sweet and soft ballad. Steel guitar cries in the distance. Excellent vocals. ***
5. (3:40) Unfinished — Could be title track — “I am unfinished…I am a half-made man.” Driving alt country or folk rock. Strong performance. ***
6. (3:22) Get Off your Knees — Alt country with big, slapping backbeats and chugging bass throughout.
7. (3:08) Slow Down — Leisurely walk through the woods, with steel guitar floating freely in the background.
8. (4:50) The Maestro — Beautiful storytelling style highlighted by Sollee’s emotive vocals over spare acoustic guitar. Cello adds lovely touches. ****
9. (5:10) The Pursuit of Happiness — Down-home Southern rock characterized by Carl Broemel’s (My Morning Jacket) edgy guitar and Sollee’s Neil Young-like vocals. ***
10. (3:56) Some Lovin’ — Nice lilting melody. Prominent rhythm guitar and drums. Some excellent cello riffs and vocals by Sollee. **
Ben Sollee’s third album finds the 29-year-old singer/songwriter taking his art in some new directions. The highly accomplished indie folk cellist has created a CD that isn’t easy to categorize, as Sollee experiments with a variety of genres. Indie folk-rock. Southern rock. Alt country. Americana. Maybe even a little pop rockabilly. His vocals are expressive and his musicianship evident on everything from the octave mandolin and guitar to his trademark cello. Sollee produced this campaign-funded release, making Half Made Man a very personal project indeed.
— Francis
Recommended: 2, 8, 5, 9, 4, 1, 10, and 3. No FCCs
1. (2:51) Whole Lot to Give — Shimmering start transitions into a catchy pop-rock number, with just a dash of fiddle. ***
2. (3:06) The Healer — Bouncy, up-tempo tune with syncopated beat and bright, ringing guitar. ****
3. (3:02) DIY — High-energy pop and rootsy rockabilly. Rudder bass drives an up-tempo pace with fiddle touches adding a bit more country flavor. **
4. (2:55) Roam in the Dark — Sweet and soft ballad. Steel guitar cries in the distance. Excellent vocals. ***
5. (3:40) Unfinished — Could be title track — “I am unfinished…I am a half-made man.” Driving alt country or folk rock. Strong performance. ***
6. (3:22) Get Off your Knees — Alt country with big, slapping backbeats and chugging bass throughout.
7. (3:08) Slow Down — Leisurely walk through the woods, with steel guitar floating freely in the background.
8. (4:50) The Maestro — Beautiful storytelling style highlighted by Sollee’s emotive vocals over spare acoustic guitar. Cello adds lovely touches. ****
9. (5:10) The Pursuit of Happiness — Down-home Southern rock characterized by Carl Broemel’s (My Morning Jacket) edgy guitar and Sollee’s Neil Young-like vocals. ***
10. (3:56) Some Lovin’ — Nice lilting melody. Prominent rhythm guitar and drums. Some excellent cello riffs and vocals by Sollee. **
Recent airplay
The Maestro
Time Traveler — Mar 27, 2015
The Maestro
Time Traveler — Jan 23, 2015
Unfinished
Time Traveler — May 09, 2014
Roam In The Dark
The Peninsula Sings — Apr 24, 2014
The Maestro
Time Traveler — Oct 25, 2013
The Maestro
Time Traveler — Oct 11, 2013
Charting
2013-01-12 — 2013-03-17
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Mar 17 | 1 |
| Mar 10 | 2 |
| Mar 3 | 3 |
| Feb 24 | 1 |
| Feb 17 | 1 |
| Feb 10 | 3 |
| Feb 3 | 1 |
| Jan 27 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Whole Lot To Give | ||
| 2. | The Healer | ||
| 3. | D.I.Y. | ||
| 4. | Roam In The Dark | ||
| 5. | Unfinished | ||
| 6. | Get Off Your Knees | ||
| 7. | Slow Down | ||
| 8. | The Maestro | ||
| 9. | The Pursuit Of Happiness | ||
| 10. | Some Lovin' |