Ben Lee recently released a new album of covers called Quarter Century Classix via New West Records. The 13-song set was produced by Lee and features his interpretations of early ‘90s indie rock favorites by Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Pavement, The Breeders, Superchunk, Built To Spill, Archers of Loaf, Daniel Johnston, Dinosaur Jr., Guided By Voices, Sebadoh, Smudge, and Beat Happening. Lee’s main collaborator on Quarter Century Classix was the innovative electronic artist Julianna Barwick and the album also features appearances by the punk rock icon Mike Watt of the Minutemen & Firehose, William Tyler, Petra Haden of that dog. & The Haden Triplets, Maria Taylor of Azure Ray, the harpist Mary Lattimore, and drummer Joey Waronker.
With this release you clearly can hear Lee’s indie influences and if you are not aware of his first band, Noise Addict, you should check out their 1995 record Meet The Real You. “16” is a single from that record and worth a revisit!