Album Notes

From its delicate yet electric flat-picked opening notes to the ringing chords and crashing cymbals of its climactic finish, Ben Cooley Hall’s “Owning Up To A Life” takes listeners through a kind of thematic indie-pop-rock-folk symphony. A chapter in one man’s journey from powerlessness to self-possession, from muteness to voice, from depression to life, might not sound like something you’d want to listen to once, let alone again and again. But, in Ben Cooley Hall’s hands, it is. Hall’s infectious melodies give his thoughtful and heartful lyrics musical vitality and staying power. The varied sonic topography helps, too, ranging from lush string and horn arrangements to bare bones voice and guitar. Guest appearances by Lyndon Cordero Lopez (trumpet), Paul Frederick (clarinet), Bob Terlisner (bagpipes), and Steven James Lawrence (piano) further enrich these solid songs.
“Owning Up To A Life” reveals in Ben Cooley Hall a talented songwriter who can turn his interior discoveries into concise, catchy songs and deliver them with artistry and heart.