Reviews of The Phantom Tollbooth

Ben Sollee: Learning to Bend
Artist: Ben Sollee (cello) with Abigail Washburn, Rayna Gellert, Lamar Cornett, Clayton Vaughn, Dick Sisto, Robbie Casenza, Elizabeth Meyer, Bela Fleck, Jacob Goran, Emily Hagihara, Bob Sollee, Scott Moore and Allison Reber
2008 Tin Ear Productions LLC 18122 91523
Thirty Tigers Distribution
11 Tracks
Running Length: 40 minutes
www.bensollee.com

Cellist/guitarist Ben Sollee has an unusual propensity for music. When one thinks of a cello player, one thinks of classical music and symphony orchestras. Ben is heading in a different direction with original lyrics and music geared for the cello as a bluegrass instrument. The photo on the CD jacket of Ben and his cello on a dock is reminiscent of the advertisements for the Jan Michael Vincent television series, “Air Wolf,” in which he sometimes ended his adventures playing a cello on a dock. In “Learning to Bend,” Sollee tells the audience on which selections he is playing the cello as a cello or hand picking the instrument.

Stand-outs on this CD include “How To See The Sun Rise,” a love song that also uses vibes (Dick Sisto) for shimmering effect. “Bury Me With My Car” pokes gentle fun at Americans who are buried in their car because they love the possession so much. “Last thing I want to see before I die/ Is the flash 22 inch chromes in my eyes.”

“It’s Not Impossible” expresses sadness that boys don’t cry when sadness strikes. “I can try and try/To change your mind/Like one man pullin’ a train down the lineIt’s not impossible for me to cry/it’ss just the hardest thing/I’ve ever done.” “Panning for Gold” has you see God in every man. “I saw God in the Forest/Teachin' Tai Chai/To The trees in the wind.” In this song, God wants people to show him the beauty of the earth. The last selection, “Copper and Malachite” (referring to the color of a girl's eyes), says good night and is telling the lady that “heard about something called lovelike finally waking upthis loose board in the floor/This is where I keep my hearrt.”

The lyrics of Ben Sollee range from love (“Prettiest Tree on the Mountain”) to inspiration (“Built for This”) to lightly speaking of war as in “Bend." Ben has clear diction so the lyrics come through well. The arrangements are easy to listen to and the songs flow from one to another. Here is a rising artist certainly on his way.