What Kind of World

Brendan Benson | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: April 24, 2012
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Readymade Records
• Copyright: 2012 Readymade Records
• Total Length: 40:25
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock
• ASIN: B007TG03AK
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,841 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not His Best, But Worth a Listen April 26, 2012

By D-Rich

Format:Audio CD

I am a huge fan of Benson's. I'm familiar with all his songs, from "hits" such as Tiny Spark to unknown b-sides like Christopher's Revolt. I celebrate the man's entire discography, so it's only natural to want to feel the same about this record.

What you'll find here is a different Brendan Benson who still writes the same kind of music. The lyrics are more personal and the music is a bit more dark and atmospheric, but the strong melodic style is unmistakably BB. This is a welcome change, as it mixes things up without forgetting what got him noticed in the first place.

It's a bit of a bumpy road though. Some songs really stand out, and some unfortunately feel tacked on as filler (only a couple of these). Lots of albums have good and bad songs, it's very common, but what makes What Kind of World sadly unique is the amount of songs that have huge potential that never seem to really take off. "Light of Day" has an A+ chorus that's unfortunately surrounded by verses that pale in comparison. "Happy Most of the Time" has a killer melody that suffers from lack of musical variation in the performance. Too many of these songs are "almost" classics, and it's a shame.

All this being said, this is still an album worth checking out. There are some great songs here. Just beware that for every song like "What Kind of World" or "Here in the Deadlights", you might come across something a bit more uninspired like "Come On." It's a bit uneven and not quite perfect, but a decent melodic rock album nonetheless.

I welcome the musical changes on this record with open arms, hoping that BB might find a masterpiece within himself next time. He's done it before (Lapalco), here's to hoping he can do it again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars singer/songwriter indie pop/rock May 24, 2012

By Charlie Quaker

Format:Audio CD

5th album from Nashville artist & member of the Raconteurs (along with Jack White). This is
better than usual singer/songwriter indie pop/rock that moves from guitar driven roots rock to
mid-tempo ballads augmented by a horn section to catchy hooks of pure power pop, and odd
combinations of tribal drums with keyboards & strings. Contributions from members of the
Posies, Loudermilk, Pistol Annies, Young Hines. Recalls artists like Jonathan Coulton, Nada
Surf, Fountains Of Wayne, Ben Kweller, Matthew Sweet, the Pernice Brothers. Feels like a bit
of a sleeper that at first seems like nothing special, then slowly creeps up on you.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "So looked over, so underrated"... an album for what kind of world? April 24, 2012

By Jamison Geibel

Format:Audio CD

The kind that appreciates this deep-thinking, hard-working songsmith. "What Kind of World" is another beautifully crafted work of art from Raconteurs bassist and vocalist Brendan Benson, his fifth album in a long line of quality releases.

Benson presents to the listener a dozen top-quality songs that, after my fifth or sixth listen to the album, will be gracing my ears for years to come. The album clocks in at around 40 minutes of music, which is nearly the exact length as his 2009 release "My Old Familiar Friend" (which is, not to devalue "What Kind of World," Benson's best album). Standout tracks include the title track "What Kind of World," the haunting and desperate "Pretty Baby," and, my personal favorite, the indecisive country gem "On The Fence."

I'm reluctant to compare Benson to Raconteurs band mate Jack White, as they are two entirely different beasts... but someone is bound to, so I might as well. After all, the two released their albums on the same day! If, in a post-apocalyptic dystopian future, I were forced to choose one of these fine musicians to recommend to a friend, I would gladly throw my support behind Benson in this informal competition. While Jack White's eclectic musical styles on "Blunderbuss" might hold my attention for the moment, few of his songs impress upon me the feeling of timelessness. Benson's introspective focus on thoughts and emotions put into words and set to fitting instrumentals creates the kinds of songs that will stay with me long into the future. "What Kind of World" is a worthy addition to Benson's catalog and deserves more than to simply be overlooked and underrated.