Name: Low Key
Brand: Brendan Benson

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

SRLP1255310

Colour

Blue

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: Yes

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

180 Gram Vinyl.

Format Music GB

Limited edition

1000

Release date

2022-12-02

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Shellshock

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

4015698646597

Total Cap

1 / Blue / LP

Artist

Brendan Benson

Genre GB

Alternative / Modern

Label GB

Schnitzel

Brendan Benson is an American musician and songwriter, born on November 14, 1970 in Royal Oak, Michigan. With a background working at a record shop, Benson has honed his craft and established himself as a talented artist in the music industry.

Known for his unique sound and catchy melodies, Benson draws inspiration from various genres such as rock, pop, and alternative. His music resonates with fans who appreciate thoughtful lyrics and memorable hooks.

Influenced by artists like Ben Kweller, Pernice Brothers, Jellyfish, Jason Falkner, The Posies, Superdrag, Fountains Of Wayne, Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub, Velvet Crush,and many others; Brendan Benson's style can be described as a blend of classic influences with a modern twist.

Schnitzel is an independent record label that has been making waves in the music industry. With a diverse roster of talented artists, Schnitzel has released albums from renowned acts such as *Ween*, *The Moons*, *Nick Oliveri’s Uncontrollable*, *Peasant*, *Hello=Fire*, *Moistboyz*, *Alain Johannes*, *Chris Harford*, *The Waxwings*, *Ragazzi*, *Jack Adaptor* and *Speedway69*. These records also feature collaborations with notable musicians including Andrew Weiss, Bobby Ogdin, Brendan Benson, David Sanborn, Joey Castillo, King Jammy, Mad Professor, Mark Lanegan, Michael Horrigan, Michael Shuman, Paul Weller, Phil Campbell (Motorhead), Reinhard “Crazy Frog” Raith and Troy Van Leeuwen.

With a wide range of genres represented on their releases - from rock to alternative to experimental - Schnitzel offers something for every music lover. Their commitment to showcasing unique and innovative sounds sets them apart from other labels in the industry.

Whether you're a fan of established artists or looking to discover new talent, Schnitzel provides a platform for both. Their dedication to supporting emerging musicians ensures that there is always fresh and exciting music being released under their label. Experience the best in independent music with Schnitzel!

Not every two-year period measures out the same, noted Brendan Benson, the 51-year old Grammy- nominated singer-songwriter and co-founder of The Raconteurs. Benson had just finished his well- received seventh album, Dear Life in 2019 when his world came to a stop. "I was rehearsing for South-By-Southwest and gearing up for a tour and had a band ready and then, of course, the world shut down," he said in a recent interview. The lockdown then began to reroute lives, societies and ambitions worldwide. "Everything changed," Benson said. "I went to work on some songs so I'd have new material when things opened up." Over months with minimal interactions, those songs coalesced and took on lives of their own, he said. Two years of semi-isolation, of fading relationships, of the natural inward turn that comes with less human contact unexpectedly pushed Benson's song-writing into new places.

Instead of being an afterthought, Benson's solitude evolved into, Low Key the eighth album by the idiosyncratic songwriter who has enjoyed both world-wide popularity with the Raconteurs and a devoted cult following for his numerous solo projects. Low Key, the Nashville-based artist said, was his chance to explore how lives and relationships changed during the lengthy isolation from the normal interactions of everyday life. Benson might not have written songs such as "People Grow Apart" and "Whole Lotta Nothing" prior to 2019, he said. "The lockdown afforded people the opportunity to cut ties - or maybe it caused people to do that," he said. "Whatever the case may be, a lot of people fell out. But then relationships ending is one of my favourite topics for song writing," he said with a laugh.

This isn't to say that the 8-track effort recorded in Benson's own Readymade Studio in Nashville is a grim look at the state of human condition. Just the opposite. The catchy, upbeat lead track "Ain't No Good," pokes fun at destructive self-absorption while the guitar-heavy "Whatever's On My Mind" skewers Benson's own hyperkinetic, stream-of-consciousness thinking. And then there's the most unlikely track of all: A cover of Gerry Rafferty's smooth 1978 hit, "Right Down the Line."  The cover was suggested by a friend.  "She's always been saying I should do that song. I don't normally pay attention when people say that stuff. But then I happened to hear it one day and I said, 'Dang. This is good.' " 

Greg Calbi, the album's mastering engineer at Sterling Sound says: "Brendan combines the classic 80's style song-writing in the Squeeze, Crowded House vein with some incredible contemporary sonic magic, the kind of album which entices the listener to get tickets to a live show immediately." The lockdown that left him mostly with himself, professionally speaking. Confined to his Nashville studio, Benson played every instrument on Low Key and handled all of the initial production. The end result was exactly what Benson had been searching for - even if he didn't know it at the time. Those years spent honing his craft as a songwriter, producer and touring musician, turned what could have been a liability of isolation into something far deeper, a body of work he described as the best of his career.

Low Key

Music GB