Thursday, March 13, 2008

CD Review: Roy Bennett’s Onomatopoeia

By Joni Hutchinson

I opened my second envelope from Pegasus News with trepidation. After my first disastrous reaction to the local music they sent, I was prepared for the worst. What I got wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

Roy Bennet - Onomatopoeia

The album, Onomatopoeia (spell that five times fast!), was recorded in a home studio – a sure sign of impending failure. The co-producer was Collyer Spreen, which lent hope to the credits I saw listed on the album jacket. As I scanned the song titles, I was interested to see the title of the songs, “I sucked today,” “2 Kids Chasing the Sun,” and “Ripples in the C.” I was prepared for – well, for royal suckage.

Which is why when I popped the disc into my car stereo listening with apprehensive ears, I was taken aback. The first song didn’t suck at all! Surely, it was pure luck that they didn’t suck on their first song. The second song began, and I actually began to smile. By the end of the CD, I was happy and ready for more, so inside came the CD, where I put it on continuous play for the next four hours.

Roy Bennett is creative and artistic. The lyrics, written mostly by Ben Templeton (also the lead singer) are smart, funny and relatable. The song “Ripple in the C” has a funky, 80’s electronica start that leads into his odd vocals. Now, here is the dilemma. There are bands out there who, in my opinion, have had questionable lead singers. Singers who may have had not-your-typical strong vocal quality – to use Randy Jackson’s turn of phrase, “pitchy and nasal.” Templeton’s vocals strain quite frequently – his range seems a little limited. But his au-natural, country/Americana/folk/rock sound works quite well with his vocals!

There’s really no one I could compare Roy Bennett to definitively – they have a definite seventies influence – like Marshall Crenshaw or The Faces, even Uriah Heep or The Who. On the other hand, they also have a rock influence – maybe a little Tom Petty in the vocal style – and a country influence for certain (Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen?).

So what you have here is a really great mix of all of my favorite parts of The Faces, The Who, Uriah, Graham Parker, Marshall Crenshaw and Robert Earl Keen – with a little Peter Frampton-style musicianship thrown in for polish.

Their self-effacing lyrics are fun, original and well-written. Their songs are consistently creative and musically superior. The production of the album is great. I can’t say enough good things about this band! I LOVE ROY BENNETT BAND! I think I might even be a groupie soon! So buy the CD – be prepared to be surprised and delighted – Roy Bennett is truly a great local talent (and I’m not just saying that because they are males and I’m not “threatened” by them*).

*per community comments on a previous review.

This review was submitted by a member of the Pegasus News Community.

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• Arts > Popular Music > Alternative / Indie
• Arts > Popular Music > Folk