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Brendan Benson — What Kind of World (Readymade Records)
As much as the story behind Brendan Benson’s fifth solo album is the story of making a record, it is also a story of finding a family — of love, marriage, the birth of a son, and of another kind of family too: one made up of all of the musicians, music-lovers and friends, who have helped to make these songs and build a label to carry them.
Over the years, Benson grew accustomed to doing things alone, releasing four solo albums to date, starting with 1996’s One Mississippi and followed by 2002’s Lapalco and 2005’s Alternative to Love. After a brief hiatus when he co-founded The Raconteurs and spent a few years touring and releasing two albums with them, he made a return to solo work with 2009’s My Old Familiar Friend. It was around this time that he also decided to relocate from Detroit to Nashville, a move that would set in motion events and relationships that would eventually form the backbone to his latest offering, What Kind of World (Readymade, 2012).
“Marriage and having a kid was the big thing,” Benson says of the years between this record and My Old Familiar Friend. Having welcomed his son, Declan, in the spring of 2010, the effect on his music was apparent: “I think it’s given me a whole new motivation, a new vigor,” he says. “If I was having a doubtful moment, I could think of Declan and think ‘I’m doing this for him.’”
The songs on What Kind of World reflect this new clarity. “I think on this record I’m saying a lot of things I never thought I would say,” says Benson. “Maybe I’m just getting older, but I don’t want to hide now in my songs, I just want to be truthful. And I’m realizing that the truth is really interesting — I’m more attracted to honesty these days than to convolution.” It’s a sentiment that surfaces and rings out on the album’s showstopper, “Bad For Me” — a dazzling, irresistible tale of a destructive kind of love. “Lyrically on this song, I’m going out on a limb,” Benson says. “I’m out of my comfort zone, and speaking really plainly. It’s a song where I realized the truth is far more compelling.”
Many of these songs are a testament to the friendships Benson has cultivated in Nashville. Musicians such as Jon Auer (The Posies, Big Star), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star, REM), both of whom Benson met at a concert to honor Alex Chilton, and Brad Pemberton (Ryan Adam’s Cardinals), Mark Watrous (Loudermilk, Gosling), and Sam Farrar (Phantom Planet) are members of his newfound musical family who have contributed to the creation of Benson’s album.
The spur of inspiration came from elsewhere as well: songwriting collaborations with rising talent Young Hines and country singer Ashley Monroe (Pistol Annies), which eventually led to the creation of “Keep Me” and “Pretty Baby”, respectively. Another track, “Thru the Ceiling,” was written with local writer-producer Jay Joyce, and for “No One Else But You,” Benson tracked down a couple of horn players after a half-remembered conversation at a recent party.
Recorded at Welcome to 1979 in Nashville, engineered by Joe Costa and produced and mixed by Benson himself, What Kind of World will be released on Benson’s own label, Readymade — a venture that has proved new and exciting while simultaneously restoring a little faith in the power of good people and good music.
A year ago, Brendan was in the process of finding a new label, which led to a disheartening discussion with his manager concerning the matter. With each new record he had been forced to find a new label and acquaint himself with a new group of people from managers to marketing departments. When his manager suggested that they put the album out themselves, it felt like the right move.
The idea for the name of his label dates back to 1995, when Benson was newly-signed to Virgin Records and putting out a limited edition EP. “I was doing the artwork, and I just stuck my own imaginary label on there — the name came from Marcel Duchamp, and his readymade objects.”
The creation of Readymade not only led to the hand-picked selection of a passionate team for What Kind of World, but it also allows the option for artists Benson has produced to have a home with the Readymade family as well. In 2011, in addition to producing his own album, Benson produced for The Lost Brothers (Ireland), Young Hines, Leah Mason (UK), and Cory Chisel, with additional producing projects already scheduled for 2012. “I’ve never done this before,” he says with evident delight, “but it’s cool to do it totally on my terms.”
The multiple outside sources of inspiration and the support from family and friends have left Benson truly excited with What Kind of World. It also helps that it passed the test with his ultimate critic. “When I got my record back from mixing, I knew I had to listen to it,” Benson recalls. “My wife, Declan, and I were all in the room, and we cranked up the volume. Straight away Declan started dancing. He was throwing it down, he just wore himself out by the fourth or fifth song. And then he fell asleep in my arms. I walked around the room with him like that, and it was the coolest, most perfect thing. I knew, then, that I loved my record.”
- Laura Barton
BRENDAN BENSON LAUNCHES READYMADE:
A NASHVILLE BASED RECORD LABEL AND PUBLISHING COMPANY
FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM WHAT KIND OF WORLD DUE OUT APRIL 21st
UPCOMING MAY TOUR DATES AND SXSW APPEARANCE
ANNOUNCES NASHVILLE’S YOUNG HINES FOR RELEASE OF DEBUT ALBUM
GIVE ME MY CHANGE TO BE RELEASED APRIL 10TH
Beloved musician, songwriter/producer and co-founder of The Raconteurs, Brendan Benson is thrilled to announce the launch of his own record label and publishing company, Readymade. This spring, Readymade will make its debut on the international stage with new releases from Benson (What Kind of World – 4/21 through BrendanBenson.com to coincide with his son’s 2nd birthday with a 4/24 street date) and the first artist signed to the label, Young Hines (Give Me My Change – 4/10). Benson will be showcasing his new album at SXSW 2012 as well as on May tour dates where Young Hines will support in the U.S.
Readymade was born in the 90’s when Benson released the Wellfed Boy demos under the imprint as a 12” vinyl. At the time Readymade was merely a concept due to a lack of resources to build a proper record label. Over a decade later Benson partnered with manager Emily White, who brought the idea to fruition, making Readymade a legitimate label around Benson’s musical output. Says White, “Brendan produced 5 albums in 2011, including his own. Launching Readymade gives us the option of a release platform tailored to each album under the same home. We wanted a way for Brendan to be able to create music when and how he wants and be able to put out the music sans any barriers. The answer to what we were looking for is Readymade.”
Launching an artist-owned label has its obvious creative and business benefits from artistic freedom to master ownership. But it can hit roadblocks when it comes to funding the team members that help promote a new release. This is where Readymade has found a truly innovative approach to the traditional business model. Rather than forego promotion or production quality, Benson and his manager developed a team of credible individuals and companies within the industry to work on album releases for a commission taken from music sales and song placements. The new approach allows them to operate without front-end costs while providing greater motivation and potential payoff for all parties involved.
Readymade will be bringing us Benson’s What Kind of World and Young Hines’ Give Me My Change, the first two Readymade releases, as well as the upcoming Benson produced album from Irish duo The Lost Brothers. Each album will benefit from team members and relationships with Thirty Tigers, Downtown Music Publishing, Terrorbird, Big Hassle, Hard Boiled Inc., Toolshed, and Music Alternatives.
Stay posted for music and further news from Readymade and their upcoming releases.
Upcoming Brendan Benson U.S. Tour Dates w/ Young Hines supporting:
MARCH
13 – 16 – Austin, TX – SXSW (Brendan Benson only)
APRIL
28 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge (Additional support by The Howling Brothers) *
MAY
03 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live*
05 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom**
10 – San Diego, CA – Casbah*
12 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour*
*On-sale Friday January 6th
**Amex Pre-sale Wednesday January 11th, General on-sale Friday January 13th
BRENDAN BENSON UNVEILS NEW SONG
“BAD FOR ME” AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD Stereogum.com
FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM WHAT KIND OF WORLD OUT APRIL 21ST
ON BENSON’S OWN NASHVILLE BASED READYMADE RECORDS
UPCOMING MAY TOUR DATES AND SXSW APPEARANCE
On April 21st, coinciding with his son’s 2nd birthday, Brendan Benson will release his fifth studio album What Kind of World via his own newly established label and publishing company Readymade Music. The record will be available exclusively via brendanbenson.com until its April 24th street date. As a preview of the new album the song “Bad For Me” is available for free download. Upcoming tour dates below.
Stream and Download “Bad For Me” on Stereogum.com
Beloved musician, songwriter/producer and co-founder of The Raconteurs, Brendan Benson has been releasing records for over a decade, first coming to major prominence in 2002 on the strength of his sophomore album Lapalco. It has been about as long since he’s felt truly free in writing and recording an album. In forming his own label and publishing company in Readymade, Benson has allowed himself full control of the creative vision behind What Kind of World , including song selection, tracking, and production.
Where Benson’s most recent release came together in pieces in studios as far flung as London and Los Angeles, the ability to record and self-produceWhat Kind of World in full at Nashville’s all-analog studio Welcome to 1979 was a blessing on a few levels aside from control and fluidity. Importantly for Benson it allowed him to stay close to the grounding force that is his wife and young son, an oasis that allowed him to return to the studio each day with fresh spirits. He was also able to bring in a host of accomplished musicians to perform on the album, enlisting the talents of Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer (The Posies/Big Star), Sam Farrar (Phantom Planet), Ashley Monroe (Pistol Annies), and Brad Pemberton (of Ryan Adam’s Cardinals).
The camaraderie associated with the recording process added to the character of the album, and helped ferment a collaborative community that has lead to Benson producing four additional albums after finishing work onWhat Kind of World, including records from two of Readymade’s first signings, Young Hines and The Lost Brothers.
Following an appearance at SXSW 2012 and the April 21st release (April 24thstreet date) of What Kind of World, Brendan Benson will play select US tour dates in May.
www.brendanbenson.com
Upcoming Brendan Benson U.S. Tour Dates w/ Young Hines supporting:
MARCH
13 – 16 – Austin, TX – SXSW (Brendan Benson only)
APRIL
28 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge (Additional support by The Howling Brothers)
MAY
03 – Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
05 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
12 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
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Jo McCaughey
Brendan Benson
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Brendan Benson