Brendan Benson - Dear Life - 8/10

Brendan Benson is probably best known to most as Jack White’s guitar slinging partner in crime in the Raconteurs. Many of that band’s fans may not be aware of his extensive solo material and, for those who haven’t explored his own work, his new record ‘Dear Life’ is as good a place as any to start!


Kicking off with the bluesy ‘I Can If You Want Me Too’, the record immediately draws parallels with the latest Raconteurs effort ‘Help Me Stranger’ with the distorted guitar laden opener channelling much of the same urgency as that record.


‘Dear Life’s only really misfire comes early on. ’Good to be Alive’ has all the initial promise of a classic Benson number, but loses it’s way when the backing track strays into a drum machine scattered wilderness – despite an excellent chorus it just doesn’t work. Applause to Benson for trying something new, but thankfully this experiment in sound (bar the auto tuned backing vocals on ‘Who’s Gonna Love You’) is the exception rather than the rule.


Indeed, by ‘Richest Man’ the record steers back to familiar ground – and is all the better for it! This country rock belter sees Benson singing a love song to his family as he croons “I got two beautiful babies and one hell of a woman as my wife”. This type of song writing could descend into schmaltz for another artist but Benson delivers something that feels authentically emotional.


The album contains many more riches. The title track is one of his finest songs to date and has the record’s most uplifting and feel good chorus. ‘Freak Out’ is an ice cold psychedelic chug and ‘I Quit’ speeds along with the multi layered vocals working perfectly. This track benefits from the instrumental range employed and the horns in particular enhance the album’s overall atmopshere.


‘Dear Life’ is not an exercise in revolutionary song writing and Benson certainly hasn’t re-invented the wheel, but he has certainly honed his craft to produce a highly enjoyable album. So, if you’re new to Brendan Benson, then give it a go and play it loud!