The Rebirth of Venus (Deluxe Version)

iTunes Review

Ben Lee plays a guileless pop that isn't afraid to exploit the catchy chorus. "I Love Pop Music" isn't just a highlight of the Australian pop singer's seventh album but a song that summarizes his worldview. The world may be facing tough challenges from war to global warming but a song can still make the day better. Lee believes this with every strum of the guitar, with every cascading blip from the keyboard. "What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)?," "Sing," and "Boy With a Barbie" sound like AM pop hits from a more innocent era. "Yoko Ono" sparks up '70s new wave power pop and like many of the songs on this loose concept album — "I'm a Woman Too," "Song For the Divine Mother of the Universe" — make the case for femininity in a society frequently overrun by aggressive male egos. "Rise Up" plays out as the quiet "stare into the abyss" ballad. "Families Cheating At Board Games" again shows off Lee's charming wit as it plays more like a spiritual anthem.