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Spotlight

Ben Jelen

Who? Born in Scotland, bred in England, Texas, and New Jersey, singer/songwriter Ben Jelen (pronounced Yellin) made a splash in 2004 with his debut long-player Give It All Away, and lovelorn first single, “Come On.” Two years later, refined and refreshed, the NYC-based multi-instrumentalist reintroduces himself with the resilient, earth-tinged Ex-Sensitive, which drops this week via Linda Perry’s own Custard imprint.

What’s the Deal? The emotionally-charged Ex-Sensitive is as sensitive as one might think. Songs such as “Where Do We Go” radiate with soaring choruses and pristine musicianship, capturing some of Jelen’s brightest pop moments yet, while the acoustic beauty “What Have We Done” reflects a softer, pensive side. With certainly enough melody and heart to get even the most jaded pop music fan into the mix, the Bonnaroo ’07 performer exhibits a pension for uninhibited songwriting and beautiful tunes that are perfect to listen to on a spring afternoon in the park; for fans of Coldplay, Pete Yorn, and classic Tori Amos.

Fun Fact: Not a newbie to the world of charity, Jelen is known for giving away portions of his earnings to charities like the United Nations, Rock the Vote, and Amnesty International.

Now Hear This:
Ben Jelen – “Where Do We Go” WINDOWS MEDIA | QUICKTIME | REAL

On the Web:
benjelen.com
Ben Jelen at MySpace

Talk: Will Ben be known for being more sensitive thanks to Ex-Sensitive?

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