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My Old, Familiar Friend is Brendan Benson's first album since becoming Jack White's lieutenant in the Raconteurs but the group's raucous classicist guitar rock isn't much heard on this, Benson's fourth collection of precisely practiced pop. If anything, the higher profile he's received as part of the Raconteurs has offered Benson the opportunity to ratchet up his perfectionism and indulge in a bit of retro fantasia, allowing him to pair the bright, neo-Motown of "Garbage Day" with "Gonowhere," a rather brilliant pastiche of prime Wings. All the extra time and budget on My Old, Familiar Friend do result in a record where it's easier to admire Benson's reach and skill, even if his power pop isn't quite as powerful, something that's evident when the music is at its liveliest, as on the opener "Eyes on the Horizon" or the cheerful, not entirely ironic breakup stomp "Don't Wanna Talk." Such is the trade-off of working on a grander scale: the ambitions are realized at the expense of energy. Fortunately for Benson, his taste and melodic skills are suited for this bigger scale, so My Old, Familiar Friend winds up as an effective showcase for his craftsmanship. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
See all-
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- Lapalco
- Released 2002
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- The Alternative To Love
- Released 2005
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- One Mississippi/The Wellfed Boy EP
- Released 2003
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- One Mississippi
- Released 1996
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listener reviews
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Not let Down
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- By ETH3L
- 8/24/2009 00:26:31
- Alternative to Love, Benson's third effort really let me down. Don't get me wrong, its a good album but more "commercial" that his effort on Lapalco.
My Old, Familiar Friend sounds more like Lapalco than Alternative to Love, and brings little from The Raconteurs. In a word ... its a maturity, a development. This listeners strongly approves. - Be the first person to rate this review!
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