A rock gem

(Morning Star, Saturday 12 March 2005)

ALBUM: Brendan Benson - The Alternative to Love
(V2)

IT'S been said a million times - it's not who you are, it's who you know.

And lucky Brendan Benson knows one of modern rock's real movers - Jack White from the White Stripes.

But, if you assumed that Benson was just riding in on Jack's red and white coat tails, you'd be wrong.

Written and recorded by Benson at his home in Detroit, this is an album of absolutely solid alt-rock gems.

Opener Spit it Out calls to mind Thin Lizzy - a punky, blissfully brash tune with plenty of attitude and nothing to prove.

The album's packed with this kind of accessible, radio-friendly work - finely crafted melodies with jamming choruses that alternate with effortlessly thoughtful asides.

Feel Like Myself is all punch and vigour, while the title track is pleasingly reminiscent of Evan Dando's winsomely alt-country stylings.
Benson thanks White on the sleeve notes, but it's surely only a matter of time before the Stripes' bluesman extraordinaire is paying homage to the wit and invention of the new boy on the Detroit scene.