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If more people listened to Brendan Benson’s
music, the world would be a better place. Skinny, wiry,
and with a boyish face which shines with glee when he
plays his wickedly funny, inspiring, downright brilliant
guitar pop songs, Brendan Benson is possibly the least
pretentious man in rock.
This, despite having the approval of fellow Detroit
natives the magnificent White Stripes and being
hoisted into the highest music echelons by music writers
comparing him to The Beatles, Beach Boys and Bowie (perhaps
it’s something to do with the letter ‘B’?). However,
he chooses to name-check Northampton band and apparent
buddies Medium 21, with a cheeky chuckle, and
inform us he and the Well-Fed Boys are a little over-excited
after days touring with the equally marvellous Beth
Orton in seated venues.
“I prefer this,” he asserts, referring to the gloomy
smallish room at the Soundhaus, where we stand, bopping
along, smiling and enjoying every minute of the set.
Cult figure he may have been before his LP Lapalco attracted
widespread critical acclaim, but there is nothing exclusive
about Brendan Benson’s songs.
Full of strange characters, like the Twitchy Girl with
cross-eyes who he wants to take home, and strange stories
of love, life and bugs (!), Benson’s boyish traits spill
into his over-active imagination.
Sure, it’s just melodic guitar pop and not likely to
break any musical boundaries. But when it sounds this
good, who’s complaining?
Natasha House for Crud Magazine© 2003
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