Produced by John Alagia (who has worked with John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds Five), 'Ripe' represents a new pinnacle for Ben, who has spent half of his 28 years crafting some of the catchiest pop songs to ever hit the airwaves. "I think this record will connect with anyone who has a genuine love of pop music," Ben muses. "This isn't about using 'pop' as a means to a fast buck, or in a condescending way - it's about how things used to be, when quality pop records won out, and the best selling records were, simply, the best records." 'Ripe' also benefits from a guest appearance by pop princess Mandy Moore, who duets with Ben on the infectious "Birds And Bees", based loosely on the Grease classic "Summer Loving". "That fell together pretty easily," Ben says of the Moore connection. "I'd been thinking a lot about how innate the search for love is for people, and after I wrote it I went to a Mandy Moore show. Backstage she told me she was a fan, and it just came to me that she'd be the perfect voice on the track. I really had no Plan B - Mandy was just so perfect!" "Besides," he adds slyly, "anytime you can hand Mandy Moore a lyric sheet and hear her sing to you, 'Come over here babe and give me a kiss' - that's a good day at work!" Also joining Ben in the recording studio were pop band Rooney and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte - "That's one of the joys of being in the music game for a long time," Ben enthuses. "You meet the occasional young band who are still learning how to change their guitar strings, and the next thing you know - bang! They've sold a gazillion records."

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Love Me Like The World Is Ending
2. American Television
3. Birds & Bees
4. Is This How Love's Supposed To Feel?
5. Numb
6. Blush
7. What Would Jay-Z Do?
8. Sex Without Love
9. Home
10. So Hungry
11. Just Say Yes
12. Ripe