Ben Kweller

Raised in Greenville, Tex, Kweller is a new school indie rock singer-songwriter who draws comparisons to Matthew Sweet, Beck, and Elliott Smith all in one breath. His first record, Freakout, It's Ben Kweller! came out in 2000. Sha Sha came out two years later and was well received both critically and -- in indie circles -- commercially. At his best, Kweller sounds like a cross between Jonathan Richman and Brian Wilson, but having said that he also sounds a little like Paul Simon too, if you envision that. The good news is, Kweller manages his influences in such a way as to expand on them, rather than engaging in empty imitation. The result is inescapably enjoyable indie pop with great drum sounds every time out.