"Besides (Volume II)" collects the remastered rarities from the last ten year's of New York City singer/songwriter Benjamin Wagner's career.
"Broken Wing" was recorded in New York City with "Crash Site" engineer Duke Rashkow in the September 2000 sessions that also produced Wagner's most beloved single, "Dear Elizabeth." The progression would later evolve into "Live Forever" on "Love & Other Indoor Games."
The solo acoustic demo of "California" was recorded with producer Kevin Anthony in August 2003, just days after being penned. The song was re-recorded for Wagner's "Almost Home." "She'll Come Undone," and "Second Guessing" -- an REM cover from the band's "Reckoning" album and one-time fixture on Wagner's live set lists -- are outtakes from the "Almost Home" sessions. "Annalia (Come Back Home)" was, in fact, originally written and recorded by Wagner in 1999. This version was scrapped -- re-recorded for "Almost Home" -- was scrapped as well.
This demo version of "The Rest Of My Life" was radically re-thought by Wagner, producer Kevin Anthony and guitarist Chris Abad for Wagner's "Love & Other Indoor Games" LP.
Finally, "Christopher Street," "Beholden," "Cast A Spell On You" and "Wishes" -- Wagner's final recordings with Anthony prior to his relocation to Minneapolis -- were released as a limited edition bonus EP. They were recorded in November 2003.
Together, they provide connective tissue between Wagner's most popular releases, "Almost Home" and "Love & Other Indoor Games," while revealing insight into the singer/songwriter's most prolific period.
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