Green Arrows Music Written by Benjamin High
ALBUM REVIEW: Benjamin High’s Green Arrows record Matters is pure like salt. The music and lyrics can melt the ice off young and old hearts in it’s simplicity, confidence and cadent delivery. Ben was a regular young man. He played video games, listened and wrote music with his friends. His pal Joe D’Agostino even tattooed a simple note on his right wrist “1,2.3” which is a song on this incredible record to remind him of those halcyon days. See Ben even had a stint in a early version of Joe’s band Cymbals Eat Guitars and if you’ve ever seen CEG play. You know that Joe plays with a vengeance as if his guitar owed him something. But this story is about Ben’s recorded zest for life which is apparent in this New Jersey Freehold’s kids music. He wears his low-fi 4 track culture on his sleeve with influences in all the right places and I’m sure nothing could have prepared him for his exit. At times this record rings a lot like uncle tupelo while it echoes working man themes and it rings it’s simple refrains freeness alla Guided by Voices & EELs. One thing is certain though, his soul has been here/there and everywhere before and with that in mind the music is free from pretense and pure like golden indie honey.
Untitled MP3 shows Green Arrows Pavement influence pretty nicely. Super catchy indie song. Like a teenage dream so buy it!
His music legacy on Matters is documented here clearly and in his honor his family and friends have created an organization dedicated to helping young musicians like Ben called The Project Matters because it really actually fucking matters. There is no label perse but a youth movement. TPM organization hopes to support other musicians like him to sheppard them into pursuing their passion for music by helping them with a show or just good advise.
Here’s some Green Arrow Influences listed from his 1-Up page:
(If only all young musicians had taste like this)
Living Life (Daniel Johnston Cover) MP3 By Eels [Buy]
Zurich Is Stained MP3 by Pavement from Slanted & Enchanted [Buy]
Here comes a regular MP3 by The Replacements from Tim [Somebody made a stinking Mats T-shirt]
Closer You Are MP3 by Guided by Voices from Alien Lanes [Game of Pricks over here]
Hopeless MP3 by The Wrens from The Meadowlands [The House that guilt built]
Barbarism Begins At Home MP3 By The Smiths from Meat is Murder [Start w/ the very best of]
California MP3 By Low From The Great Destroyer [Love you some Low]
Where Have All the Good Boys Gone MP3 By American Analog Set from From Our Living Room To Yours [Get some 4track crooners here]
Related Articles:
The Project Matters Benefit pre-show review Kick out the jams! The Show featured: Carah Faye Charnow, Escape Directors, Cymbals Eat Guitars and Charles Bissell(solo) from The Wrens . See Charles Bissell live at Maxwells Video »
Recent Comments