Ben Sollee
Half Made Man
Folk-rock
Half Made Man, the latest release from multifarious singer-songwriter Ben Sollee, is an album constructed with much promise. Known for his collaborations with My Morning Jacket front man Jim James, Sollee employs spacious orchestral arrangements to embellish his tried and true folk rock song formulas.
While this might seem like a recipe for an endearing listen, it perfectly illustrates the album’s major downfall. Half Made Man suffers under the weight of its influences, and no amount of orchestral instrumentation can help it recover from that.
The album’s 10 tracks play like a crash course in rock history. The smooth soul of “Slow Down” recalls Derek & the Dominos-era Eric Clapton, while “The Pursuit of Happiness” serves up a rehashed brand of aged Southern rock. Sollee offers little interpretation on these references, instead hiding behind his cello in search of his “signature sound.”
The album’s few stand-out songs reveal a different side of Sollee’s compositions. The stripped-down “Roam in the Dark” places Sollee’s silky voice at the forefront, exposing a hidden gem not adequately represented on subsequent tracks.
The twangy “DIY” offers a refreshing and upbeat take on alt-country. If only for a brief moment, Sollee seems to shed his weighty exterior, unleashing a playful songwriter toying with the sounds of days past rather than imitating them.
Half Made Man’s ode to rock’s storied past ultimately hinders its impact. There’s no raw immediacy here — every move Sollee makes feels rehearsed and restrained, as if he’s unsure how to push his music to its limits. Perhaps all he needs is the right dose of inspiration to make himself whole.
Dive verdict: 2.5 of 5 stars
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