I love being introduced to musical artists I’ve never heard before and then experiencing that discovery of music with which I connect on a deep level. Recently, I was pointed in the direction of Ben Taylor’s CD “Listening”, a collection of 11 soulful, poetic songs. As I listened to one song after another, I tried to think of an artist to whom I could compare Ben for the sake of this review, but I came up empty handed. Each song showcases a different facet of his voice or talent, and so there is no one real comparison. Of course, being the son of Carly Simon and James Taylor, the obvious comparison is to Ben’s father; and indeed, I can hear the subtle undertones of James Taylor, of whom I am a huge fan. Ben’s music, though, contains more of a folk feel with a healthy dose of funk and a reflectiveness in the lyrics that transcends James Taylor’s airiness.
What I like the most, I think, is that none of the tracks are like the one that comes after. My favorites by far are “Giulia”, which seems to be an anthem to a past relationship, and the title track of “Listening”, on which the guitar work is phenomenal. Throughout the album, the different instruments (acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards and some organ and light percussion) really set the background for Taylor’s crystal-clear, deep vocals. The entire album makes me feel relaxed, and as a busy mom of three, that is worth its weight in gold!
I encourage you to take a closer look at Ben Taylor’s album “Listening”, as well as some of his other work at www.bentaylormusic.com. You won’t be disappointed!
-Jessica
* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. Jessica received a copy of Ben Taylor’s CD “Listening” free of charge to facilitate this review. This in no way swayed our opinion of the product or service. The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ.
