Ben Knighten is an acoustic folk songwriter from Colorado Springs. His music has been described as "addictive, & upbeat, complete with passionate & powerful subject matter" and "a nice wedding of restraint on the part of the instruments and intensity in the singing that never fails to please the ears and bring out the meaning of the songs." He recently released his second full-length album entitled "Keep the Sky" and has played at many different venues across Colorado. He also has been nominated for "Best Folk Artist" by the Colorado Springs Independent. Additional information about his music and upcoming shows can be found at www.benknightenmusic.com.

Ben Knighten

Ben Knighten is an acoustic folk songwriter from Colorado Springs. His music has been described as "addictive, & upbeat, complete with passionate & powerful subject matter" and "a nice wedding of restraint on the part of the instruments and intensity in the singing that never fails to please the ears and bring out the meaning of the songs." He recently released his second full-length album entitled "Keep the Sky" and has played at many different venues across Colorado. He also has been nominated for "Best Folk Artist of 2012" by the Colorado Springs Independent. Additional information about his music and upcoming shows can be found at www.benknightenmusic.com.

Middle TN Music Review

Ben Knighten hollered our way the other day, and we're glad he did! We now have got our paws on his latest record, "Keep The Sky" (Circle 504 Records) and that puts a smile on our faces.
Ben's an independent musician from out Colorado way. Now, I may be messed up in the head (don't do it) but, when I think of Colorado, I think of wide open spaces of green, hills and plateaus, rivers in valleys, snow-capped mountains, and peacefulness. In other words, I picture it a lot like Middle Tennessee, except with a bit more variation in elevation.
That's what this dude's tunes bring to mind, also. Melodic, harmonious, flowing, climbing, resting, and simplistic, tracks like "Ready or Not" that move like a slow stream pit the tempo with words like "flying" and "falling" which imply speed and help marry the song's wanting with resolution.
Like a stream
Bubbling along, downhill over the rocks, in it's happy, burbley way, the album's opener "Lucky One," sets the mood of the record well. A great blend of a 12-string rhythm with some mandolin, cello, and harmonica, it flows right along. Ben's got a great, positive attitude that comes across beautifully in his music, and it's nice to hear it!
The more I listen to this, the more I get into it. Lots of the songs could have had the full-blown treatment, but Ben choose to keep the arrangements clean and the instrumentation basic. Guitars, cello and mandolin are a great combination, why mess it up? They also happen to work perfectly for these songs, somewhat reminiscent of Dave Matthews, or Nickel Creek.
You could call it americana, but that wouldn't quite get it. It's more than singer/songwriter and doesn't quite fit into pop. It's not bluegrass or country. I think acoustic-american-laid-back-groovy-feel-good-tunes is a bit much for a genre term, so just forget you read it, and know that its cool. Seriously, though, the traditional instruments complement the songs, perfectly, from the ballads to the up-beat "Wrong Side of the Road."
I'm thinking my favorite cut is "Oh, Colorado," which closes the record out in a perfect way. It's always hard to pick a favorite, when you find a record full of good songs. I guess I'll spin it again, quite alright, I can handle that. An album with a hopeful story to tell is always a pleasure!
Jesse Smith played Cello, Kris Sciba played guitar/backup vocals, and Mike Couillard played mandolin, to round out Ben's group. Wise choices, if you ask me. Each of them plays with passion and knows just what to add, without going over the top. The arrangements are as suited to the studio as they are for the stage.
Ben's first release was well received, and is also a great addition for your indie collection.
"...From his melodic tunes to his angelic voice, Ben Knighten makes wondrous music." Isaac Davis, Jr. of Junior's Cave
And Michael Mallory - at Carlito's Music Blog said
"...This CD will simply make your day a brighter place. ...you will find yourself inspired, invigorated & happier than you were 45 minutes prior."
So, it seems I'm not alone! There's a great vibe to the music of Ben Knighten, a lightness, and fleetness that is hard to describe. Every tune leaves you feeling a little better than you did before you heard it. This one's going on my playlist, fer-shure-tho!
Along with Jesse, Kris, and Mike, Ben is sure to put on a good show, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them start showing up on some cool stages. They show a pretty hectic schedule on the ReverbNation page. With the summer frenzy heating up, it would be cool to see them on some of the festival stages. Do yourself a favor if you get the chance, and catch one of their shows.
The CD release party was held on the 19th of April, and the record will be available very soon. We'll keep you posted on the date. For now, catch a preview on Ben Knighten.Com , or ReverbNation.
Oh, and now that it's played through again, I think I'm calling "The One" my favorite track on the record, it's just sweet.

MuzikReviews Review

Ben Knighten
Keep The Sky

Ben Knighten is an acoustic folk singer from Colorado Springs, Colorado. His style has been compared to greats like Dave Matthews and has been described as "addictive and upbeat." I agree. From the moment I set the album to spin, Knighten's vocals brought depth and a textured sound that I found refreshing. Knighten is lead on vocals and guitar with contributing artists Kris Sciba (vocals, guitar) and Jesse Smith (cello). Keep the Sky is Knighten's sophomore release.
"Lucky One" comes blazing to life with energetic guitar riffs and a harmonica that adds a country/folk flair to this song. As the vocals spiral up and out Knighten takes you on a journey of the soul. Free floating above life's goals and expectations, this piece is full of optimism and gratitude. The pace of the song is steady, with riffs that are simple, yet illuminating.
"Keep the Sky" is the title track to the album and it begins with a catchy set of guitar riffs that grabs your attention right away. A steady rhythm that comes from deep inside the artist's soul, this piece will have you closing your eyes to get deeper into it. "Keep the sky from falling when I look up to the stars." Dreams of success and the fear of failure are very much alive in this piece and so many of us can relate to it, making it one of my favorite songs on the album. The textured guitar playing adds the passionate element needed to drive Knighten's deep desire for success home.
"Let Go" is an upbeat track that made me think of riding a bike down a long country road and holding your arms up to the sky in gratitude for all the gifts life has to offer. Again, this piece captures insightful and powerful lyrics that pair well with Knighten's passionate guitar riffs. Relationships, regrets and trying to find your way along life's road as we discover we all have common goals after all are strong themes in this song.
Ben Knighten does an amazing job of putting his passions into words and notes of music. His simple but powerful riffs really drive home the themes in each of his songs and make you want to listen to the album again. The interesting cross between folk and rock make this album one that could belong to either genre, but end up belonging to both. The sound quality of this album is good and I look forward to seeing what this artist will come up with next. If you enjoy energetic and powerful guitar playing with upbeat lyrics, you should definitely check out this album.

Key Tracks- Lucky One, Keep The Sky, Let Go

The original article can be read at http://www.muzikreviews.com/reviews.php?ID=2122

Albums

This Artist has 1 Album

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Comments

Author
Nick Fuse
over 30 days ago to Ben Knighten

Ben, Welcome to the Folk Alternative world, where the natives are friendly. Love and Be Loved. - Nick

1 Replies
 
Ben Knighten
over 30 days ago

Thanks Nick! I checked out your songs. Good stuff!



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