While Brendan Benson may be best known for receiving the fervent patronage of fellow Detroit natives the White Stripes, the songs on his second album display little of Jack and Meg's garage roar. Rather, Lapalco recalls po... more »wer-pop groups such as Fountains of Wayne and Teenage Fanclub. Benson and longtime musical colleague Jason Falkner write ornate, Technicolor-bright songs. On "Folk Singer," Benson directly references one of his idols: "She says, 'Stop pretending you're not John Lennon.'" Sure enough, "Tiny Spark" is built around a classic-sounding 1960s riff. Benson also likes to inject character and humor into his songs. In "Metarie," he sings that he "Met a girl/ Introduced myself/ Asked her to go with me/ And no one else," only to be told, "You need a bath/ Your clothes are wrong/ You're not my type/ Know we wouldn't get along." He might mock himself on his own record, but this self-professed loser has produced a winner of an album. --Louis Pattison« less
While Brendan Benson may be best known for receiving the fervent patronage of fellow Detroit natives the White Stripes, the songs on his second album display little of Jack and Meg's garage roar. Rather, Lapalco recalls power-pop groups such as Fountains of Wayne and Teenage Fanclub. Benson and longtime musical colleague Jason Falkner write ornate, Technicolor-bright songs. On "Folk Singer," Benson directly references one of his idols: "She says, 'Stop pretending you're not John Lennon.'" Sure enough, "Tiny Spark" is built around a classic-sounding 1960s riff. Benson also likes to inject character and humor into his songs. In "Metarie," he sings that he "Met a girl/ Introduced myself/ Asked her to go with me/ And no one else," only to be told, "You need a bath/ Your clothes are wrong/ You're not my type/ Know we wouldn't get along." He might mock himself on his own record, but this self-professed loser has produced a winner of an album. --Louis Pattison
"Brendan Benson? Who? Never heard of him. That would have been my response to hearing that name about a month or so ago. Then I read a little review of "Lapalco" in my local newspaper (of all places) by the local music journalist (thanks David M.!). It was enough to make me want to get the CD, without even hearing a single tune from the album. A complete blind purchase...which is not at all unusual for me. There is something very exciting about purchasing an album having never heard a single song...then being completely blown away by it. Which is what happened with this one. What a musical pairing...Benson & Falkner. I knew the album had to be pretty darn good with Jason Falkner's hand all over it. Taking nothing away from the obvious talent of Brendan Benson mind you. These two seem to be twin sons of different musical mothers. Loads of talent. And it shows all over this album. This one is chock full of great tunes. Catchy, hook-laden, clever lyrics, stick to ya kinds of tunes. For something fresh and just a bit different take a chance on this one. If you clicked in this far go ahead and click the rest of the way and buy "Lapalco". Brendan Benson was the man who wasn't there. He is there now. Make him there for you too!"
Prepare to sing along!
Larry | Holland | 02/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Let's be frank here: anyone who likes popsongs with lots and lots of hooks, catchy melodies, beatle-like chord canges, and (often silly) lyrics about girls, should buy this album right away and never stop enjoying it immensely. At least that's what I did."
Run, don't walk!
Larry | 12/09/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Whenever I can, I tell my friends about Brendan and what a good cd this is. Yet everytime I listen to it, I am blown away, forgetting that it isn't good, it's amazing. Listen to it on a rainy day, a sunny day, in the morning or at night. Benson creates melodies and pop hooks that manage to suck the listener in early, during "Tiny Spark", not letting go until the last fading moments of "Jetlagged". I can't say enough about this cd, so all I'll say is go out and get it. There's not a fave song, because all are excellent. There is a cohesiveness to the album, yet no song repeats another. Imagine my pleasant surprise when at a White Stripes concert they did a cover to "Good to Me"! I hate the puns, but this album is certainly good to me..."
Detroit's Hidden Gem Deserves An Ear
Anonymous | Plantation, FL | 05/01/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Brendan Benson, whose excellent new CD is called Lapalco, and who has opened on tour for the red-hot White Stripes, is a Detroit cult hero who seriously deserves wider acclaim.
Benson plays what I would call "hard pop," a mix of mostly edgy rockers interspersed with some rather sweet ballads. His lyrics tend toward the angst-y, tortured side, and what's impressive about his music is he isn't afraid of melody. The songs have a listenable, hummable, Beatlesque quality to them.
I have seen (and heard) this guy as a rare talent since hearing his first CD, called One Mississippi. Do yourself a favor. Discover him."
Great Pop-Rock!
contrarian | Atlanta, Georgia USA | 04/07/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not familiar with Benson's earlier work, but just happened to hear this disc in a local store. It's truly great! Kind of like a post-punk Big Star, or a more rocking Elliott Smith. Of course, the Beatles are always the ultimate source for this kind of thing. In his lyrics, a friend tells him "You're not John Lennon." Well, maybe not, but this disc is certainly the next best thing."