The Rebirth Of Venus
by Ben Lee
  • Record Label: New West
  • Release Date: Apr 28, 2009
Metascore
43

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 10
  3. Negative: 4 out of 10
  1. Paste Magazine
    73
    While Lee’s preachy lyrics often feel forced and rarely reach beneath the surface of the issues, the man known for homespun sing-alongs retains his catchy strumming and perfect blend of sweet and funny musings, making it difficult not to root for him.
  2. AllMusic
    40
    Even if Lee's songs of solidarity are basically sweet in nature, his puppy-dog earnestness winds up being off-putting in the long run on The Rebirth of Venus.
  3. Spin
    30
    Amid spoken-word interludes and I'd-like- to-buy-the-world-a-Coke-style choirs, only Lee's innate melodic gift saves him from total embarrassment.
  5. Slant Magazine
    30
    Were the central conceit not so half-assed and Lee's lyrics not so shallow, Venus might qualify as actively misogynist in a way that could be interesting to engage and dissect. As is, the album is simple to an annoying, tiresome degree.
  6. PopMatters
    60
    While this may not equate to cool, there is something infectious and unwaveringly hopeful about it.
  7. The A.V. Club
    16
    The Rebirth Of Venus, his seventh full-length, offers a more direct kind of terrible.
  8. Alternative Press
    40
    Lee's cutesy folk and piano pop leaves us cold. [Mar 2009, p.106]
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  9. Uncut
    20
    There's a winning way with '70s soft-rock chord changes, but his staggering lyrical banalities makes most of this virtually unlistenable. [May 2009, p.89]
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  10. Boston Globe
    70
    Lee pulls it off--and has fun with the earnest sermonizing while he's at it.
  11. Hartford Courant
    70
    He overreaches on occasion, but more often pulls off the sort of trick he manages with 'Families Cheating at Board Games,' merging faith and offbeat, cerebral underpinnings to forge quirky slivers of fresh perspective.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. Kim
    May 9, 2009
    6
    Awake is the New Sleep is one of my top five favorite albums. Unfortunately, this one doesn't quite measure up, but I love how much Ben Awake is the New Sleep is one of my top five favorite albums. Unfortunately, this one doesn't quite measure up, but I love how much Ben Lee wants the listener to have fun and, for the most part, he does a good job of it. I buy his albums... my friends buy his albums... intelligent people interested in sometimes listening to music that isn't completely moody and dramatic just because it can be... that's who buys his albums. This album, while not his best, is still fun!… Full Review »
  2. StevenR
    Apr 28, 2009
    7
    Really haven't listened to the album much (it's just ok) but had to call Tim M an elitist dildo. Have you heard the album? Not Really haven't listened to the album much (it's just ok) but had to call Tim M an elitist dildo. Have you heard the album? Not likely because you don't like him. So don't review it. Stick to listening to what Pitchfork tells you to.… Full Review »
  3. TimM
    Apr 28, 2009
    0
    Ben Lee is a disgrace in every way. His music is sickly sweet, unimaginative drivel and his lyrics are even worse. Not sure who buys these Ben Lee is a disgrace in every way. His music is sickly sweet, unimaginative drivel and his lyrics are even worse. Not sure who buys these albums but whoever does is equally to blame for these turds that Ben Lee keeps dropping all over the floor.… Full Review »
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