1999's Breathing Tornados marked a new direction for Lee as he introduced synths and increased instrumentation into his sound. The album was a huge success, with the first single, "Cigarettes Will Kill You", finishing second in that year's Triple J Hottest 100. Lee also enjoyed success with the single "Something Borrowed, Something Blue" - from the album hey you. yes you. - reaching no 22 in 2002's Triple J Hottest 100.
In 2001 he joined forces with Evan Dando, Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick and Jason Schwartzman of Phantom Planet and acting fame. Calling themselves Dando Lee Petersson Schwartzman, they recorded a single, "Dead or Anything", at Globe Studios, New York.
During 2003 he teamed up with Ben Kweller and Ben Folds for a side project entitled The Bens. They recorded four songs together in Nashville, resulting in a self-titled EP.
In late 2004, he left Steve Pavlovic's Modular Recordings and started up his own record label, Ten Fingers. The first release on the label was the single, "Gamble Everything For Love", followed by the album, Awake Is The New Sleep in February 2005. A defining release in his career, the album showcased a much brighter, positive side of Lee's personality, in contrast to his previous darker musings. Awake Is The New Sleep received several nominations for the 2005 Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) awards, and Lee won Best Male Artist, Best Independent Release, and Single Of The Year for "Catch My Disease". Catch My Disease was also number 2 on the 2005 Triple J Hottest 100.
In September 2007, Lee released his sixth solo album, named "Ripe" after the final song on the record. The album is somewhat controversial, with most songs relating in some way to sex, lust and love. Mandy Moore features on the album in the song "Birds and Bees", and Benji Madden plays electric guitar in "Sex Without Love". It also features Sara Watkins, Rachael Yamagata, Charlotte Martin, Ned Bower, Taylor Locke and Robert Schwatzman (who is also credited for co-writing 'Sex Without Love'). It was a big step away from the spiritual "Awake is the New Sleep", but shows Lee's need for change in songs. The album was produced by John Alagia and released under the Inertia/Ten Fingers label 'Awake is the New Sleep' was released under.
February 2009 brought the release of his latest LP entitled "The Rebirth of Venus." This release also includes a bonus disk that includes six cover songs that Ben has done including "Kids" by MGMT and "New Wave" by Against Me!.
Up The Cuts
Ben Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stare at the white stucco ceiling
Turn on the TV, watch music on television
Have I heard this song before, did this already happen?
Derived influence, in style of dress
Similar trends in camera technique and editing
Sync up the cuts to the bass drum kick
Is there anybody thinking what I am?
Is there anybody thinking what I am?
Are you restless like me?
Are you restless like me?
Are you restless like me?
And all the insiders rumor over the decline in sales
All the buzz is happening in the new digital marketplace
FBI warning printed on the flip-side
"Under penalty of law, piracy will be prosecuted"
And in MRR, someone asks the question
With the instant availability of information
And content so easily obtainable
Is the culture now a product that's disposable?
All the punks still singing the same song
Is there anybody thinking what I am?
Is there any other alternative you know?
Are you restless like me?
Are you restless like me?
Are you restless like me?
The song "Up The Cuts" by Ben Lee reflects on the homogeneity and shallowness he perceives in the music industry. The opening lines of the song "I can't sleep, dry red eyes wide open, Stare at the white stucco ceiling" convey a sense of restlessness and insomnia which could be seen as metaphorical for the state of the industry which Lee goes on to describe. He then watches "music on television" and questions whether he has "heard this song before" as it all seems to blend into a generic and unoriginal sound. He comments on the "similar trends in camera technique and editing" used across music videos and how they "sync up the cuts to the bass drum kick" which is a common trend in modern pop music.
The second verse of the song focuses on the issues with the music industry's business practices, referring to the FBI warning against piracy that is printed on the flip-side of albums. He also alludes to the decline in sales in the industry, with insiders rumoring about it. He then poses the question of whether the culture has become a "product that's disposable" due to the ease with which content can be obtained.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Are you restless like me?" which further emphasizes the sense of frustration and dissatisfaction with the state of the music industry. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of exhaustion with the lack of originality and depth in modern music.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't sleep, dry red eyes wide open
I am suffering from insomnia, my eyes are dry and wide open.
Stare at the white stucco ceiling
I am looking at the white stucco ceiling.
Turn on the TV, watch music on television
To relax, I turn on the television and watch music shows.
Have I heard this song before, did this already happen?
I am afraid that I may have already heard this song or witnessed this music video.
Derived influence, in style of dress
Musicians are influenced by one another and it shows in their clothing.
Similar trends in camera technique and editing
Music videos are using the same type of editing and camera work, which suggests a lack of creativity.
Sync up the cuts to the bass drum kick
The editing of the music video is timed with the bass drum beat.
All the taste makers drinking from the same glass
The trend makers, who set the standard for what's popular, are all following the same path.
Is there anybody thinking what I am?
I wonder if anyone else is thinking along the same lines as me.
And all the insiders rumor over the decline in sales
Insiders are concerned over declining sales.
All the buzz is happening in the new digital marketplace
The current trend and the future lies in digital sales and profits.
FBI warning printed on the flip-side
A warning against piracy is printed on the flip-side of the album.
"Under penalty of law, piracy will be prosecuted"
If anyone is caught pirating music, they will be held accountable by the law.
And in MRR, someone asks the question
The question is posed in punk rock magazine Maximumrocknroll.
With the instant availability of information
With instant access to information on the Internet.
And content so easily obtainable
Content is easily accessible and available for free.
Is the culture now a product that's disposable?
The current music culture is seen by some as disposable and lacking longevity.
All the punks still singing the same song
Punk rock musicians are still singing about the same subject matter.
Is there any other alternative you know?
Is there another way that we can change the current state of the music industry?
Are you restless like me?
Do you feel restless like I do?
Are you restless like me?
Do you feel restless like I do?
Are you restless like me?
Do you feel restless like I do?
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.