Record Exchange Boise

Reviews:

Brendan Benson deserves better than what he’s gotten from the music industry.The singer, songwriter and Detroit native—who’s returned home afterspending much of the ‘90s in California—put out an exceptional debutalbum, One Mississippi, on Virgin Records during 1996; it was underpromotedand hung out to dry, and before long Benson found himself with plenty of criticalraves but no record deal. Whether Lapalco gives him his deserved spoton the marketplace radar remains to be seen, but the 12-track sophomore effortcertainly confirms Benson’s talent as a pop craftsman with a knack forharmonies and hooks and a good sense for putting muscle into his melodies. Workingagain with producer and collaborator Jason Faulkner, Benson clothes himselfin the classic sensibilities of the Beatles and Beach Boys, flaunting deft andoccasionally dense lyricism and rich arrangements that defy the lo-fi recordingprocess he favors. A subtle Motown flavor runs through “Life in the D,”which he describes as “a tragic comedy.” “Eventually” isa smoothly executed patternwork of layers and textures and also contains oneof the album’s most memorable choruses.

“Tiny Spark,” “Folk Singer,” “Good to Me,” “What”and “I’m Easy” are timeless in their energetic bounce, while“Just Like Me,” the particularly introspective “Pleasure Seeker”and the spare album-closer “Jet Lag” show that Benson is equally adepton the mellow tip. If there’s justice in the world—which there oftenisn’t when it comes to pop music—Lapalco will achieve all thatOne Mississippi should have and make Benson one of those long-in-comingovernight success stories.