Lapalco

Brendan Benson

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2002)
• Original Release Date: February 26, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Startime
• ASIN: B000060OLF
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

While Brendan Benson may be best known for receiving the fervent patronage of fellow Detroit natives the White Stripes, the songs on his second album display little of Jack and Meg's garage roar. Rather, Lapalco recalls power-pop groups such as Fountains of Wayne and Teenage Fanclub. Benson and longtime musical colleague Jason Falkner write ornate, Technicolor-bright songs. On "Folk Singer," Benson directly references one of his idols: "She says, 'Stop pretending you're not John Lennon.'" Sure enough, "Tiny Spark" is built around a classic-sounding 1960s riff. Benson also likes to inject character and humor into his songs. In "Metarie," he sings that he "Met a girl/ Introduced myself/ Asked her to go with me/ And no one else," only to be told, "You need a bath/ Your clothes are wrong/ You're not my type/ Know we wouldn't get along." He might mock himself on his own record, but this self-professed loser has produced a winner of an album. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Man Who Wasn't There, June 18, 2002

By	Brian K. Bunn (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Brendan Benson? Who? Never heard of him. That would have been my response to hearing that name about a month or so ago. Then I read a little review of "Lapalco" in my local newspaper (of all places) by the local music journalist (thanks David M.!). It was enough to make me want to get the CD, without even hearing a single tune from the album. A complete blind purchase...which is not at all unusual for me. There is something very exciting about purchasing an album having never heard a single song...then being completely blown away by it. Which is what happened with this one. What a musical pairing...Benson & Falkner. I knew the album had to be pretty darn good with Jason Falkner's hand all over it. Taking nothing away from the obvious talent of Brendan Benson mind you. These two seem to be twin sons of different musical mothers. Loads of talent. And it shows all over this album. This one is chock full of great tunes. Catchy, hook-laden, clever lyrics, stick to ya kinds of tunes. For something fresh and just a bit different take a chance on this one. If you clicked in this far go ahead and click the rest of the way and buy "Lapalco".

Brendan Benson was the man who wasn't there. He is there now. Make him there for you too!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to sing along!, February 28, 2005

By	Larry (Holland) - See all my reviews

Let's be frank here: anyone who likes popsongs with lots and lots of hooks, catchy melodies, beatle-like chord canges, and (often silly) lyrics about girls, should buy this album right away and never stop enjoying it immensely. At least that's what I did.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Run, don't walk!, December 8, 2002

By A Customer

Whenever I can, I tell my friends about Brendan and what a good cd this is. Yet everytime I listen to it, I am blown away, forgetting that it isn't good, it's amazing. Listen to it on a rainy day, a sunny day, in the morning or at night. Benson creates melodies and pop hooks that manage to suck the listener in early, during "Tiny Spark", not letting go until the last fading moments of "Jetlagged". I can't say enough about this cd, so all I'll say is go out and get it. There's not a fave song, because all are excellent. There is a cohesiveness to the album, yet no song repeats another. Imagine my pleasant surprise when at a White Stripes concert they did a cover to "Good to Me"! I hate the puns, but this album is certainly good to me...