Ben Lee Sings Against Me! New Wave

Singer-Songwriter · 2007 · 10 tracks · 33m

Ben Lee Sings Against Me! New Wave

August 19, 2007 · Not On Label (Ben Lee Self-released)

Ben Lee Sings Against Me!

New Wave is a fascinating exercise in radical recontextualization. By taking one of the most explosive and controversial punk albums of the 2000s and stripping it down to its barest acoustic bones, Lee forces the listener to engage with the songwriting of Laura Jane Grace in an entirely new way. The distortion and shouting are replaced by breathy vocals, gentle piano, and the occasional glockenspiel. It sounds less like a protest in the streets and more like a late-night conversation in a dimly lit living room, where the weight of the world is discussed in hushed tones.

Tracklist · 10 Tracks · 33m

01

New Wave

3:29

02

Up the Cuts

2:51

03

Thrash Unreal

4:14

04

White People for Peace

3:32

05

Stop!

2:38

06

Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart

4:07

07

P**S & Vinegar

2:32

08

Americans Abroad

2:15

09

Animal

3:17

10

The Ocean

5:02

Moments Worth Listening For

The transformation of Thrash Unreal from a driving rock anthem into a delicate, piano-led ballad that emphasizes the tragedy of the lyrics.

Hearing the biting political critique of White People for Peace delivered with a soft, almost childlike sincerity over a simple acoustic strum.

The way the tempo slows to a crawl on Ocean, turning a punk plea into a vulnerable, hushed confession.

The surprising use of bright, toy-like percussion to underscore the cynical themes of the title track.

Where This Album Departs

How does Ben Lee Sings Against Me! New Wave sound next to the rest of Ben Lee's catalogue?

Social Commentary+3.5σ

The writing leans far further into social commentary than the rest of the catalogue.

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