ben kweller

Changing Horses is not an album typical of a native San Franciscan, as Ben Kweller is. However, it is an album from a man whose family moved him to Emory, Texas (population: 1,000) before his second birthday. On his fourth studio release, Kweller's bucolic background shines bright, and it's safe to say that his music will no longer promote Adam Sandler or Julia Stiles movies. Instead, it sounds a lot like a Friday Night Lights episode, which is a very good thing.

On previous releases, Kweller has awkwardly fought for face time amongst a market crowded with similar acts, such as tourmates Death Cab for Cutie and Ben Folds. Unfortunately, the music market today is saturated with whiny, introspective white men. It was a race that Kweller was losing, and he probably knows this better than anyone else.

So it is no surprise that Horses has a much more country feel to it, as Kweller nicely trades in the downer for the dobro. His new sound comes through clearest on standouts like "Hurtin' You" and the superb "Old Hat." Here, Kweller produces a bluegrassy, rural sound that is surprisingly genuine and unforced. The highlight of the album is "Wantin' Her Again," where Kweller laments about a girl who knows all too well that she has him wrapped around her finger. "She don't even want to be my friend," Kweller sings. "She just wants me wanting her again."

Changing Horses is a welcomed departure from an act that was borderline stale. Kweller's songs are entertaining, insightful and will pose a serious problem to those who describe their music tastes on Facebook as "anything but country."