Customer Reviews

My Old Familiar Friend

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Brendan Benson is one of those musicians that can really puzzle you. Here you've got a man with the voice of an angel, quirky and easily accessable lyrics, and a sense of melody only bestowed upon the greats (such as the likes of McCartney). And yet, he's not huge. He's certainly gained more fans due to his side-project The Raconteurs, but you'd still expect his solo career to be AT LEAST as successful as that band. Some things just don't make sense.

If you've ever found yourself listening to your old Bowie or E.L.O. albums and asked yourself "where have all the greats gone?", the answer is that they've never totally disappeared. They've just become harder to find. Had Benson been born a few generations earlier, I could almost guarentee you that he'd be having hit after hit. He was born with the right skills, in the right place.......but in the wrong time.

This new album defines what BB is all about. Every song is fantastic and the album stays varied from the beginning to end. I can only implore you to check out his earlier albums as well, which are all equally great. In short, do yourself a favor and purchase My Old, Familiar Friend. It's the perfect way to cap off summer 09.

It's a bit ironic that Brendan Benson finally achieved a modicum of commercial visibility assisting Jack White in a band where Benson was merely the second fiddle, although Benson's pop influences and golden ear for a hook were a major reason for the Raconteurs' radio success. Then again, those Raconteurs paychecks have gone a long way towards buffing out Benson's inimitable pop-rock stylings, and My Old, Familiar Friend features Benson's most tricked-out studio effort yet, along with the requisite mammoth wall of hooks and lyrical charm he's been praised for all these years.

Unlike, say, Fountains of Wayne, Benson's never had that one commercial smash to break through the indie wall and into the mainstream, but My Old, Familiar Friend is, without a doubt, chock-full of potential radio smashes aimed at shattering that wall: the arpeggiated piano stomp and straightforward chorus of "Eyes On The Horizon;" the light-hearted "hey-hey-hey-now" refrain and lovesick musings of the bubbly "Misery;" the synthed-out wallop of opener "A Whole Lot Better," supercharged with its multi-tracked choruses and relentless acoustic strum. From song to song, Benson nails every note with practiced precision, making My Old, Familiar Friend a clinic in how to make pop music not only accessible, but also innovative and undeniably fun.

Of course, this isn't something Brendan is exactly new at. While the album sounds fuller than previous releases, this is still what Benson has been successfully pulling off for years, except now with more dollars to throw at the mixing boards. Benson's lyrics are still the standard love-won/love-lost reveries of a thousand singer-songwriters (albeit with the sort of sly wordplay Benson has perfected), the guitars belt out Cheap Trick-sized riffs with a trebley sparkle, and the rapid fire drum work is up to tempo and flawlessly energetic. And he still can't get rid of his sappy side - for all of Benson's wistful, lost puppy vocals and the swelling, sweeping string section, "You Make A Fool Out Of Me" can't kick the melodrama out of its system. For all its over-produced bluster, a schmaltzy ballad is still a schmaltzy ballad, no matter how many orchestras you pile on top.

What separates My Old, Familiar Friend from what's come before, however, is when Benson stretches his figurative legs and really puts all that studio money to use. Straight-ahead power-pop like "Eyes On The Horizon" is all well and good, but when you hear a track like the retro-tastic "Garbage Day" or the threatening synthesizer pulse of "Feel Like Taking You Home," Benson's talents become nearly revelatory. The former is an immediate classic, a doo-wop and Brill Building pastiche that is enveloped in bright strings and a four-on-the-floor rhythm - you can almost imagine some label's stable of girl back-up vocalists belting out some "ooh la las" in the background.

There's the pounding stutter-step of "Poised and Ready," which features one of Benson's most immediately gripping vocal performances, followed by the deceptively sprightly break-up anthem "Don't Wanna Talk," a song with the kind of chorus that makes one think it's a tragedy this guy isn't on the radio every day. The aforementioned "Feel Like Taking You Home," meanwhile, will have air drummers everywhere picking up their imaginary sticks for the solo-filled climax.

It's those kinds of sincerely memorable tunes that make My Old, Familiar Friend another step in the right direction for Brendan Benson, not to mention another classic example of rock `n roll mixing with the best kind of pop sensibilities. There are a few missteps - the underwhelming closer "Borrow" is the kind of rip-roaring kiss-off Benson can do in his sleep, and "Lesson Learned" is sort of a poor man's "Them & Me" (from 2005's Alternative To Love), but these are minor chinks in an album that largely succeeds in again differentiating Benson from his more famous side project. Indeed, My Old, Familiar Friend is just that - a comforting, intimate collection of infectious power-pop that welcomes back this melodious craftsman to the solo world with a warm embrace.

I have waited for this album for so long. I have been a huge fan since 1997 . Every cd that is released is different and I love that about BB. I admit that this one didn't catch on as quickly as Lapalco but then neither did Alternative to Love. I have listened to it all day, and I must agree with the Rolling Stone review that it does have an ELO/ Wings vibe to it , which is ok with me since I love both of them. So far, for me, the stand outs are Garbage Day,Misery,Borrow, and Poised and Ready. I highly recommend this cd ,but not if you are looking for the Raconteurs.

Another fantastic batch of songs from a guy who could sing the phonebook. Brendan's whole catalog is stellar, and while this album doesn't have standouts like "Spit It Out" and "Feel Like Myself" from Alternative to Love, it's still a must-have addition to any power-pop library.

Now this is the way to release vinyl! Not only did the album itself get pressed to 180 gm vinyl, the packageing is a gorgeous, gatefold cover... Included in the album was the CD version of the album itself. You get the best of both worlds! Its nice to compare the digital to the analog versions side by side..

The album itself is a masterpiece.. This one will take you back to 1975-177 with hooks big enough to catch a shark! Masterfully written and played... Brendans due out with a new album any minute that was redorded in the studio "Welcome to 1979." This studio is an analog recording studio that promises the feel and warmth of the old days...

Look forward to the release, Brendan!

Brendon Benson has carved out a nice little niche for himself as a power-popper extraordinaire. He's cut albums that use the blueprint of bands like The Who and The Beatles (and then their acolytes, like Jellyfish or Matthew Sweet), but his three albums prior attracted mostly critical attention and a devoted cult audience. One of those fans was Jack White, who pulled Benson into the rocking Raconteurs, which raised his profile sufficiently enough to get him another record deal, this time with ATO.

"My Old Familiar Friend" will surprise those familiar with Benson only via his Jack White friendship, but not those who have loved his albums like "One Mississippi." Benson flaunts his love of Paul McCartney from the first notes of "Whole Lot Better." There's a kick of Motown in the swirling strings of "Garbage Day." "Misery" even has a little bit of an Attractions kick to it. All across the album, there's a cheerful vibe to which the sixties were the most fun of the musical decades.

What does that mean for you (or for Benson, for that matter)? Depends on your record collection. "My Old Familiar Friend" will slot in nicely if you slavishly pour over your Jason Faulkner, Matthew Sweet, Big Star and Badfinger albums. Seeing as PowerPoppers are something of an insular breed of fanatic, then that's about the best recommendation I could give as to whether or not you'll like this Cd and want to buy a copy for yourself.

Brendan Benson is well known for his singing and songwriting with the Raconteurs. His solo work is just as good if not better. My Old Familiar Friend is another masterpiece and ranks right up there with his classic album, Lapalco, which many have ranked as one of the Top 100 Albums of the Decade.

Well, not really. Currently "My Old, Familiar Friend" is 110 on Billboard's Top 200 albums chart, which is actually higher than I thought it would be considering today's musical landscape. But it has been a long time since the best selling albums equated to the best albums, in my humble opinion. Probably not since the 1970's has that really been the case. "My Old, Familiar Friend" is at the top of the only chart that matters...mine. Best album of the year. Brendan Benson once again proves that he is one of music's best kept secrets. Why his music has yet to reach a bigger audience is simply puzzling. And why there are to date only 7 customer reviews for this album on Amazon is also puzzling. Brendan Benson deserves better. In a just musical world in which actual talent was king he would be at the top of the charts. But as it stands now, he is our little secret. Not so good for Brendan, but for us relative few in the know it's kind of nice. Please keep it coming Brendan. You have some very loyal fans out here that hold you and your talent in high regard. And that, my friend, ain't a bad thing.

Oh yeah...enjoyed the show at the Cat's Cradle. Would not have missed it for the world.

I wasn't fortunate enough to be exposed to Brendan Benson until I was introduced to him via The Raconteurs. Since then he has earned a steady spot in my listening rotation. Personally I have enjoyed the album since my first listen. The album flows very well from song to song. Brendan's singing is great, and I love his clever lyrics.

Outside of that, if I were to criticize anything to avoid being a total fanboy, I would mention it lacks a little of the pep that Lapalco and Alternative to love had. Nothing major, just not quite as upbeat as those two albums.

All in all I think this is a great album, that I have listened to many times since I purchased it. When you factor in the fact that it is selling in mp3 form on Amazon for $5, you can't beat it. Considering not really any of my favorite bands have put out a new album this year, I would say this is my best musical purchase of 2009.

Brendan Benson's CV to date is exemplary. Despite critical acclaim for his albums "One Mississippi", "Lapalco" and "The Alternative To Love", and success with Raconteurs, Brendan hasn't gotten the praise he has deserved. His latest album "My Old Familiar Friend" was his big chance to show everyone what he could do. Unfortunately, he has delivered a 'nice' but a mostly, risk-free effort. One thing that I always loved about Brendan was his ability to write songs with a twist. Think of 'Pleasure Seeker' off "Lapalco" or 'Got No Secrets' off "One Mississippi", with their unusual riffs or 'Biggest Fan' off "The Alternative To Love". There's originality there that marked him above his peers in the power pop genre. Unfortunately, this album shows very little originality compared to earlier work. The lead song on the album 'A Whole Lot Better' is pleasant, but pretty standard. 'Eyes On The Horizon' is one of the stronger songs. 'Garbage Day' has an orchestral arrangment reminiscent of ELO or Phil Spector, however the song itself is pedestrian and uninspiring. 'Gonowhere' is another strong-ish one. Unfortunately 'Feel Like Taking You Home' is dumb. The lyrics are incredibly sloppy. He seems to be going back to the old "say something, then quote the opposite" mode of lyric writing e.g. "feel like taking you home now, feel like being alone now" (?), lyrically similar to 'Flesh And Bone' off "The Alternative To Love" e.g. "you can switch it off and on, first you're here and then you're gone" etc. However, 'Flesh And Bone' had a decent melody. 'Feel Like Taking You Home' is missing a chorus (?). 'You Made A Fool Out Of Me' is wistful and decent enough. It really reminds me of Supergrass' 'Late In The Day' in melody. The rest of the album plods along inoffensively. The only time you feel like Brendan is giving us something new is the unusual keyboard on 'Lesson Learned'. At this point we are on song 10 with only one other plodder to go. Overall the album clocks in at 35 minutes in length. I'm sorry but it sounds like a rush-job. I am surprised. I thought that Brendan would come up with something more original than this. "Lapalco" remains his strongest album. This is such a pity. I was hoping that Brendan's solo career would go from strength to strength. This album is not good enough.