Brendan Benson - LaPalco

Brendan Benson is a good boy- I cannot say enough nice things about him. He sings about being rejected over sunny guitar sing-a-longs, he loves strangers, he (and this is the point where he captured my heart) sings tribute to his "1980 Volvo" ("Good to Me"). His just sunshine in a bottle, a tan in a can, the sugar in coffee. He is also, like the title of one of his songs, a "tiny spark" of cinnamon apple goodness against the grain of the new wave of seemingly never-ending emo bands. He is bummed, yah, but he ain't gotta dwell on it. His "Pleasure Seeker" is like finger-painting, his "Folk Singer" makes you want to play a parachute game. If you're in the mood to feel good, or even if you just need to feel good, ye shall seek the Brendan and ye shall be happy. Really. I cannot write the "...but" part of the review, because Brendan just isn't bad. The lyrics are fuzzy and cozy like Stealers Wheel, even in his depressive moments ("What"): "You keep me guessing I’m always guessing wrong/ Always wrong/ With a not-so-pretty face/ And a poorly thrown ceramic vase" as well as songs "Just Like Me" and "Jet Lag." He's one of those guys who ask their female friends things like "Why don't girls ever go after nice guys like me?" Then throws in the proverbial towel and writes a song about it. He's just a well-rounded individual with a good disposition. I'm a sucker: Buy the album. [www.brendanbenson.com]