Suggested Listening: Brendan Benson – My Old, Familiar Friend

Brendan Benson has his fourth album My Old, Familiar Friend due to come out on August 18th via ATO.  I’ve been spinning it regularly and I think I like it (but sometimes I’m just not in the mood for this form of pop rock).  On the album Benson really shows off his knack for delving into a multitude of styles – motown, psychedelia, folk, but ultimately hanging his hat on creative pop rock.

“Feel Like Taking You Home” is the highlight for  me and could easily fall into any Racounteurs album and no one would notice.  It’s one of the darker sounding songs on the album and about as hard as he gets.  The rest of the album is a little more light-hearted (not in a bad way though).  Benson really brings it all together on “Poised and Ready”.  It’s a high energy type of track that really reminds me of Costello in some of the refrains and structure.  I guess if you wanted to emulate some good pop rock – Costello would be my choice.  Over all My Old, Familiar Friend isn’t a revolutionary or inventive album, but it’s entertaining and well written – a quality display by Brendan Benson.

mp3: Brendan Benson – Feel Like Taking You Home

mp3: Brendan Benson – Poised and Ready

He’s also has some upcoming tour dates as well:

8/17/09 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
8/20/09 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
8/22/09 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
9/10/09 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
9/11/09 San Diego, CA @ Belly Up
9/12/09 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

More to be announced shortly.

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