Two time British Music Award winner Ben Howard released his second album in late October entitled I Forget Where We Were. I, unfortunately, discovered it only recently and cannot stop listening to it. Howard is known for his sultry and strong voice, poetic lyrics and laid back attitude. An avid surfer and explorer, Howard has implemented his love for the ocean and everyday adventure into his music smoothly. This album is meant for the lonely, heartbroken, reminiscent and nostalgic heart. Purchasing and listening to this album will not only change the perspective of your own relationships but will impact the way you look at music for the rest of your life. Howard is neither a name to be forgotten nor ignored. So count your pennies and dimes and pick this up at your local CD store, load it into your car and take the long way home while you listen to melodies pump your heart with emotion and your mind with closure.
“I Forget Where We Were”
Standout Lyric- “Hello love, my invincible friend. Hello love, the thistle and the blurr. Hello love, for you I have so many words. But, I forget where we were.”
The albums title and third track of the CD, “I Forget Where We Were” sets the mood for the entire record. The song starts off slowly, with simple chords that continue to get more complex as the lyrics become more vivid. Obviously the most important line of the song is the title, but I find this interesting and intriguing when trying to decipher the meaning of this song. To forget where you were with someone is significant. We tend to take in a lot of things throughout the day, and it is quite difficult to forget a place you once were. Only great distraction or occupation could make someone truly forget a place. Meaning that this person, whomever it may be, meant so much to him that he forgot everything else. This is a genius take on a cliche idea. It takes the listener out of a normal cheesy situation and digs them deep into his emotions simply but effectively.
“Evergreen”
Standout Lyric- “Built a world without your love, and I built it in me.”
Howard has as great of a knack for storytelling as that of his songwriting. In the song “Evergreen,” he tells an unfortunate tale of a chilly winter without love. In just a few short lines, he transmits a message of longing, regret, temptation and growth. He starts to sing about a changing world with his love not present. Then he goes on to say that the change has not only evolved through daily life and routine, but also in him. Growth is a part of the waters that most artists will not tread for fear it will turn off the listeners. Why is growth such a touchy topic you ask? Well, many find growth to be a scary and treacherous thing that is transformative. Instead of making evolution seem like a terrifying process, Howard wrote about his own hardships and how he won’t turn back. Though the process is hard, Howard talks about will power and self recognition when temptation came knocking on his door. A string of alluring moments and perseverance turn growth into the noble and courageous thing it should be recognized as.
“Time is Dancing”
Standout Lyric- “And now she’s caught between, what to say and what she really means. And I am finally coloring inside the lines that I live between.”
There are a couple of songs that you come across in your lifetime that make you get butterflies in your stomach, and this is one of them. Howard has only had a few success songs in his career and if any of them deserve immense recognition it is “Time is Dancing.” This song is about discovery and learning from your mistakes. A common struggle in life is the constant and confusing battle of making decisions from your heart or your mind. Howard reflects on his past by singing about how he has lived between the lines his whole life and finally realized how to make that state of mind work and be successful. He talks about himself because he sees this war going on in someone he loves and is trying to comfort her. The melody is transformative and different, and should be noted as one of the greatest songs on the record.
“Conrad”
Standout Lyric- “You were the boat that bridged in the tale of Conrad. We would never be the change to the weather and sea and you knew that…. Oh I loved you with good and careless of me, but it all goes back.”
Towards the end of the album you will stumble upon this song. Throughout the entire record Howard paints an image of a lost love that has been left unresolved but, Conrad is the resolution to the battles he has pointed out with other tracks on the record. The music is light which molds a theme for the song before the lyrics begin. Closure runs through the lyrics like blood through the body. Howard has finally come to terms with losing love and is learning everyday the truth of the matter, that it all goes back. A subtle but essential line gives the listener that little nugget of hope they have been looking for while listening to the record. Conrad is the breath of fresh air to the album, making it one of my favorite tracks on the record.
This album is available for purchase on iTunes and in stores now.
