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Garrin Benfield: Where Joy Kills Sorrow
[Zacksongs]

Much like Sharifs Surrogate Lovers released last year, theres nothing horribly offensive about Garrin Benfields new release.  Its just that there isnt much thats terribly engaging either.  Sure, there are a handful of memorable songs here notably the first four but Where Joy Kills Sorrow is like one long, mid-tempo soft rock concert.  Frankly its boring, like John Mayer without hooks.

This is apparent from the get-go, despite those early songs.  Yeah, hes got a nice voice (imagine Richard Marx or Kenny Loggins not trying so hard), and no doubt some go for this style (if you consider Sarah McLachlan hard rock), but its mostly marginal soft-pop/acoustic cheese.  So what makes the good songs good?  It most likely has something to do with the melodies (more memorable, I suppose), but maybe its in the little things.  Answers has character (listen to the way he sings the verses) and a middle-eight that might be the best thing on the album (its almost magical).  The Loop and What You Wanted to Hear just seem to hit the right notes.  Theyre catchy, too.  But something happens after Dont Panic.  Someone hits the autopilot button, and everything plods along to the end, one wistful ballad at a time save the short instrumental Bite Mark, which shows some weirdness. But where is that on the rest of the album?  In fact, whats it doing on here?

This album can be purchased at Amazon

Garrin Benfield Official Website

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