Who is Brendan Benson (And why isn't everybody talking about him) ?



OK, these days when I'm not busy reading Åsa Larsson novels, I am listening to some music.  So what else is new?  Although, preferably, I like doing both at the same time.  And lately it's been Brendan Benson's latest, "What Kind of World" (2012), which has been on repeat play over at mi casa.
I first became aware of Brendan sometime back in the late '90s when his first solo album, "One Mississippi" (1996), for some reason or the other came into my possession.  Albeit briefly, since I didn't care too much for it at the time.
Therefore his sophomore effort, "Lapalco" (2002), completely and utterly passed me by.  But I have since become appreciative of a brilliant track, "Folk Singer", from that exact album which makes a reappraisal a definitive possibility in the not-too-distant future.



But the Benson breakthrough, as far as I'm concerned, came in 2005 when I heard - and purchased...and loved - "The Alternative to Love" album.  A minor Power Pop masterpiece which somehow, unusually, owed a lot less to the past as to the (then) present.  If that makes any sense at all.



Next up was, yuk, "super group" side (Read: vanity) project The Raconteurs.  Apparently Jack White, he of the White Stripes, was a fan and roped Benson in as a co-conspirator of said side/vanity project.  And, somewhat surprisingly (OK, you can tell I'm not the biggest White Stripes/Jack White fan around), their first album, "Broken Boy Soldiers" (2006), was pretty good.  Disappointingly, their second, "Consolers of the Lonely" (2008) was less so, though.  An unfocused mess, truth be told.



Wisely, a year later, Benson was back on track with his fourth solo set, "My Old, Familiar Friend".  Famous, overrated friends or not, it's always best to stick with what you know (and do) best.
And then last year (2012, to be precise and absolutely accurate here), Brendan Benson delivered his finest set of songs to date.  "What Kind of World" is that rare and unusual breed of a record where every song possesses its own unique appeal, yet somehow makes so much sense as a piece of the whole puzzle...or the concept, if you will  Think, for the lack of a better comparison, (Gasp!) "Pet Sounds" for the modern man.  From the playful Power Pop of "Happy Most of the Time" to the haunting wistfulness of duet (With Ashley Monroe) "Pretty Baby", "What Kind of World" is a constant and satisfying surprise throughout.  An absolute and uninterrupted joy!



So why - in all probability - haven't you heard anything about this album before reading this?  And why didn't we see it on any of last year's "Best of" lists by the music critics of this world?  Why, indeed?  Could it be simply because Brendan Benson, in spite of - or perhaps because of - reaching his full maturity so "late" in the game, isn't exactly the new kid on the block anymore, and, therefore, consequently, is no longer considered to be one of the cool kids?  The flavour of the month makes the world go around, eh?  Well, fuck that!  Never mind the snobs, it's a great record. 

Brendan Benson is touring Europe right now.  If I wasn't on the fringes, on the outskirts, of the region, I wouldn't miss that...

Tom Robinson Band



Arguably, TRB's "Power in the Darkness" (1978) is one of the finest debut albums in the history of popular music.  In my humble opinion at least.  Never mind the classic rock radio staple (The phenomenal "2-4-6-8 Motorway"), which, by the way, is NOT included on the original LP - it's just a cracking rock album, chock full of anthems and energy...as such albums should be.



So why isn't it more widely lauded then?  Well, wrongly pigeonholed in with the burgeoning Punk/New Wave movement of the time could have had a little something to do with it.  After all, TRB wore flares - a Punk no-no - and had a Hammond organ-player in their midst...although the Stranglers also had one of those.  Furthermore, perhaps, the gay rights posturing/preaching may have been a factor.  Say what you like about Tom Robinson, but he was/is never one to shy away from a topic close to his heart and mind.  Just take a listen to the unforgettable (You have been warned: A '60s hippie term coming up) 'protest song' "(Sing If You're) Glad to be Gay" (Again, NOT on the album!) to find out...

 

Produced by then-recent Sex Pistols/The Clash accomplice Chris Thomas, "PITD" packs a powerful punch.  "Long Hot Summer", "Ain't Gonna Take It", "The Winter of '79" (My favorite line: "Spurs beat Arsenal - What a game!") and single "Up Against the Wall" are just some of the highlights.

 

And odd as it may seem, Danny Kustow is for some reason not a household name today.  THE lost guitar god of the '70s if you ask me.

Inevitably, for the follow-up album, the big, currently hip American producer (Todd Rundgren, in this space and time) was flown in and the record was hastily finished in, eh, record time.

"TRB 2" (1979) wasn't an entirely bad record, but it wasn't very good either.  A Peter Gabriel co-write "Bully For You" (Later in the year nicked by Pink Floyd of all people for the depressing disco of "Another Brick in the Wall Pt.2") was a strong track and an obvious single, but which somehow - inexplicably - failed miserably chart-wise.

 



 

By then the writing was on the wall and by 1980 TRB had broken up.

Their fearless leader has never been completely out of the spotlight since, though in later years his profile has been somewhat lower.

But fear not.  Recently EMI had the good sense to put out the excellent and exhaustive 3CD/1DVD "Tom Robinson Band Anthology 1977-1979", containing all the essentials, previously unissued demos, live recordings and the like.  It should be available at a (net)store near you.

And, by the way, Tom Robinson Band recorded one of the finest Dylan covers the '70s served up.  But, yet again, it wasn't included on the album.  Which just goes to show how many good songs they had to begin with.  I suppose.