Post by The Curmudgeon on Dec 25, 2012 0:46:38 GMT 2
When it comes to "Supergroups", you'd imagine it would kinda suck being the "group" part, as opposed to the "Super". When you're in one of those supergroups with Jack White, it's no real secret what part you're going to end up playing.
And yet, it doesn't seem to bother Raconteur's "other guy" Brendan Benson, who merrily puts out albums and plays live shows to a small but devoted following.
Even though the two combine to make pretty sweet music together, on their separate records they differ wildly. Jack White, of course, showcases his love of old blues musicians and a love for the likes of Led Zepplin. Nothing wrong with that.
Brendan Benson, though, for it is he we are discussing today, creates a far more easily palatable collection of songs, suggesting a heavy diet of classic pop radio heavyweights like Billy Joel. There's nothing too challenging on a Brendan Benson record. He doesn't try and re-invent the wheel like Radiohead and he doesn't attack the senses like Jack White. He makes accessible, excellently crafted guitar-led pop songs to be enjoyed by anyone who hears them. And last time I checked, nothing wrong with that either.
I bought Brendan's second record on a bit of a whim; I'd heard of him through the Raconteurs, and I had vague hopes of there being a couple of good songs on there. That was about six months ago. Now? I own all but one of his albums.
As a result, it's a bit of a tricky one to pick just one song, so I'm going all super self-indulgent again and picking two. The first was a proper single, and a song that, if God existed, would be a massive cross-over mainstream hit, while the likes of Will.I.Am and Flo Rida remain unknown. This is "Cold Hands, Warm Heart."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uClOAnm_JnY
Next up is my particular favourite track from his third album. This wasn't a single, so you'll have to make do with this collection of emo anime instead.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ABXKJNLtGc
Commercial pop-rock par excellence. Dive in.
And yet, it doesn't seem to bother Raconteur's "other guy" Brendan Benson, who merrily puts out albums and plays live shows to a small but devoted following.
Even though the two combine to make pretty sweet music together, on their separate records they differ wildly. Jack White, of course, showcases his love of old blues musicians and a love for the likes of Led Zepplin. Nothing wrong with that.
Brendan Benson, though, for it is he we are discussing today, creates a far more easily palatable collection of songs, suggesting a heavy diet of classic pop radio heavyweights like Billy Joel. There's nothing too challenging on a Brendan Benson record. He doesn't try and re-invent the wheel like Radiohead and he doesn't attack the senses like Jack White. He makes accessible, excellently crafted guitar-led pop songs to be enjoyed by anyone who hears them. And last time I checked, nothing wrong with that either.
I bought Brendan's second record on a bit of a whim; I'd heard of him through the Raconteurs, and I had vague hopes of there being a couple of good songs on there. That was about six months ago. Now? I own all but one of his albums.
As a result, it's a bit of a tricky one to pick just one song, so I'm going all super self-indulgent again and picking two. The first was a proper single, and a song that, if God existed, would be a massive cross-over mainstream hit, while the likes of Will.I.Am and Flo Rida remain unknown. This is "Cold Hands, Warm Heart."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uClOAnm_JnY
Next up is my particular favourite track from his third album. This wasn't a single, so you'll have to make do with this collection of emo anime instead.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ABXKJNLtGc
Commercial pop-rock par excellence. Dive in.
