Ben Lee - Catch My Disease

Ben Lee releases the much anticipated album Awake is the New Sleep today. The album is full of lovesick indie-pop songs that drip with a sort of contentment without losing the urge to continue to yearn. It was produced by Brad Wood (Liz Phair, Smashing Pumpkins, Tortoise) and includes a pretty swank list of collaborators, including Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley and The Postal Service, former Phantom Planet drummer Jason Schwartzman and former Jellyfish guitarist Jason Faulkner.

His bio says that his mother remembers him spending most of his childhood sitting on the floor with a turntable, playing Rumours (Fleetwood Mac), Avalon (Roxy Music), and the Jack and the Beanstalk soundtrack. Weirdly enough, this is almost the perfect summation of his current sound. You can even hear his ode to the Mac when he sings "you can go your own way" on Gamble Everything for Love. These are songs about moving forward, taking chances and possibility. His sincerity is almost frightening, but if you let go and take the journey, you won't regret it.

I got a chance to talk to Ben on the eve of his release. You can read the interview here or look for it in the left sidebar.

Check out the tour dates here.

Bonus Track: Into The Dark