BRENDAN BENSON
The Alternative To Love
(V2)

A one-man band is one way to describe Brendan Benson. Like good friend and collaborator Jason Falkner and Todd Rundgren (on Something/Anything?), Benson famously plays everything on his albums. And considering the sheer quality of his previous works viz. the surprising One Mississippi and the mature Lapalco, that is a tremendous achievement!

Essentially, Benson defines the erudite and intelligent end of power pop, where melody is still prized but quality and craft equally valued and elevated. Pop classicism that evokes the Beatles (primarily McCartney) and the Who, with heavy (and healthy) doses of Jellyfish (natch!) and the Fountains of Wayne is the order of the day with Benson’s latest opus.

It begins with the frenzied guitar assault of “Spit It Out” and closes with the ambitious “Between Us” which alternates between traditional rock ‘n’ roll and chamber pop histrionics, the latter if you can imagine manages to combine the extreme styles of the Electric Light Orchestra. Ooh yeah.

In between, the infectious “Cold Hands (Warm Heart),” the Spectoresque “The Pledge” and the humorously campy “Biggest Fan” carve out an eclectic pop-rock mix that will keep discerning listener’s attention for a sustained period.

The Alternative To Love maintains the momentum that Benson has built up in the last ten years, establishing a reputation for smart, relevant and tuneful rock music that may ultimately transcend the “ghetto” that is the power pop underground scene. A   

www.brendanbenson.com