The most common strategies for coping with grief is to surround yourself with loved ones and lean on your support network when you have trouble standing up on your own. And though Ben Kweller’s “Cover The Mirrors“, an album he recorded as a way to reckon with his grief over the death of his 16-year-old son,
Ben Kweller is back and he’s not the same. Who could be after the heartbreak he’s endured since the sudden passing of his 16-year old son, Dorian Zev. Instead of hiding away, the beloved indie-rocker is walking through the fire of grief with intention and purpose. Kweller’s latest album “Cover The Mirrors”, arrives on what would have been Dorian’s 19th birthday, May 30th. ”This is the most personal, emotionally raw project I’ve ever worked on,” Kweller says. He has been an open book throughout his illustrious career. His songs hold a nostalgic quality that takes you to a time and a place, happy or sad. Despite all of the heartache and sadness surrounding this story, Kweller’s open-eyed honesty about grief and loss has been an inspiration to people around the world. His new musical chapter is a chance for all of them to witness a great songwriter at his creative peak.”
“I can’t wait to hang with you again.” If you know the tiniest bit of backstory about Ben Kweller’s upcoming album “Cover the Mirrors“, there’s no way the closing line from his new song featuring MJ Lenderman won’t leave you with at least a knot in your throat. There’s a warmth to it, but that waiting feels like staring right into the sun.
The album features several guest musicians (Waxahatchee, Coconut Records, The Flaming Lips, and MJ Lenderman), it never feels as though he’s relying too heavily on them. Instead, they contribute to the album’s somewhat unexpected uplifting atmosphere; it’s not exactly a party, but it does feel more like a celebration of life than a meditation on despair. Even “Letter To Agony,” possibly the album’s most downbeat song (it opens with the line, “Oh, darling / I’m not doing so well”), leads into the poppier “Save Yourself,” with a chorus that implores, “Don’t let it beat you up / When the rose you have / Is a faded color.” “Oh Dorian,” the album’s closer, ends with the heartbreaking but optimistic line, “I can’t wait to hang with you again.” “Cover The Mirrors” isn’t always an easy listen, but it is, ultimately, deeply rewarding.
2025 The Noise Company Released on: 2025-05-27
The Fat Angel Sings 