Ben Lee . New West Records

Turn to Webster’s Dictionary and you’ll find that “ripe” has a number of definitions, most of which revolve around the concept of being ready for use: “brought to perfection or the best state; completely matured.”

No surprise, then, that Ben Lee has named his sixth album Ripe. Having spent fully half of his 28 years crafting some of the catchiest tunes to be heard at discriminating radio everywhere, Lee is now poised to reap the same kind of mass appeal that he’s already established in his native Australia – where he’s taken home four ARIA Awards (Australia’s version of the Grammys®).

“I think this record will connect with anyone who has a genuine love of pop music,” Lee says of his second effort for New West Records. “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.”

Produced by John Alagia (John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Ben Folds), Ripe represents a new pinnacle for Lee, whether it’s the on the album’s first single, “Love Me Like The World Is Ending,” the piano-led march against apathy that is “Numb,” the joyously charming tribute to “American Television” (replete with exultant “woo-hoo-hoo”s on the chorus) or the catchy duet with Mandy Moore, “Birds and Bees,” inspired by the Grease classic “Summer Lovin’.”

Ripe also benefits from guest appearances by members of pop band Rooney on “American Television,” “Birds And Bees,” and “Is This How Love’s Supposed To Feel?” and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte on “Sex Without Love”. Both bands have long been “good mates” of the melodious master.

Even for an industry that sometimes cherishes youth above all else, Lee’s career is something of a surprise: the singer/songwriter headed the well-regarded teen-pop act Noise Addict when he was 14, drawing the attention of such well-respected names as Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and the Beastie Boys’ Mike D., who released Lee’s first two solo albums on their Grand Royal label.

Lee’s first New West release, 2005’s Awake is the New Sleep, was the one to put him over the top: that was the album that won him the four ARIAs and contained the worldwide smash “Catch My Disease,” as heard on everything from TV shows Grey’s Anatomy and Hidden Palms to a massive Dell computer TV ad campaign.

Now based in Los Angeles, Lee still maintains an ever-widening group of friends and fans around the globe, a sure testament to the universal appeal of his music.