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...