Benjamin Booker. Remember his name, because this kid is gonna be bigger than huge. Few albums have been released with such a heavy weight of expectation. It’s clear from the opening track of his self-titled debut that this guitarist and vocalist is something seriously special. Booker’s voice is soaked in the best of gravelly, prickly, butterscotch blues and soul and he sings with a passion far beyond his years, but with a believable authenticity.
The most astonishing thing about this album is not just the nods to the old greats (Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry), but the seamless incorporation of the sounds of the more contemporary music he’s grown up listening to, including garage and punk. Violent Shiver has undertones of punk and rock, but Slow Coming really showcases his blues credentials with deep, mournful crooning. Happy Homes is more of a country jaunt, while Wicked Waters is a rocking garage tune and the drum solo in Have You Seen My will have you sliding off your chair. Spoon Out My Eyeballs starts out practically a capella with just Booker’s voice and a guitar strumming about 20 feet behind him, but as it ramps up and his voice hits its stride there’s no mistaking that this dude has pipes and he’s channelling the best of the blues and soul greats.
This kid is already on the path to musical greatness and I’ve already bought my ticket and I’m coming along for the ride. Benjamin Booker. Remember that name. Though once you’ve heard the album, it’ll be pretty dang hard to forget.
BY ISABELLE ODERBERG
Best Track: Happy Homes
If You Like These, You’ll Love This: GARY CLARK JR, BLACK KEYS, ROBERT JOHNSON, BB KING, JACK WHITE
In A Word: Un-mother-fucking-believable
