Benny Sings – “Music” Review
After two years, one of the most influential artists in indie pop and bedroom pop has come out with his newest album, “Music.”
Tim van Berkestijn, aka Benny Sings, has taken his position in the upper echelon of indie musicians along with other artists in the modern-day indie scene—including Mac DeMarco and Gus Dapperton.
Berkestijn, originating from the Netherlands, began his career in 1999, where he would take on the stage name Benny Sings after joining a Dutch hip-hop group.
The singer-songwriter would release his first solo album “Champagne People” in 2003. The record was a hit in Europe, but it wasn’t until the early 2010s that Benny would gain more acclaim in the United States.
Albums such as “Art” and “City Pop” are some of his greatest works, especially since they more prominently display his developed and distinct sound. Berkestijn’s popularity would gain a lot more traction with the release of the song cover “Passionfruit.”
Songs such as “Not Enough,” “Big Brown Eyes,” “All We Do for Love” and “Everything I Know” are just some of his highly recommended bangers.
Fans of Benny Sings can see to it that this latest release is absolutely littered with amazing hits.
Benny released this newest album on April 9 while also holding a livestream concert at The Planetarium Amsterdam. Fans were reportedly very pleased with the artist’s performance.
In “Music,” fans can hear a lot of the gorgeous indie pop tunes of past albums with a little more oomph. The album also features other artists, such as KYLE and Mac DeMarco.
Although Benny has produced music for DeMarco, it’s the first time that audiences actually get to hear the two artists performing and recording a song together. The end product is astonishing, as Mac’s lazy voice complements Berkestijn’s quirky, funky bass and piano instrumentals perfectly. The long-time musicians included elements from both of their styles, and that’s really something to appreciate in “Rolled Up.”
The heavy, thumping percussive beats and synths playing in the background of “Here It Comes” make for a very beautiful song.
“Nobody’s Fault,” featuring Tom Misch, is another absolute bop and became very popular amongst listeners when it was released as a single.
Though “Music” is very short—just 33 minutes in length—the only true thing to complain about is the comparison to other things Benny has done in the past. “Music” lacks a lot of the length, meat, complexity and vibrance of a record like “City Pop.”
In “City Pop,” listeners can hear a more unique and varied experience with songs such as “Nakemeguro” and “Softly (Tokyo).” A lot of fans liked the playful electronic beats mixed in between tracks. “City Pop” and “Art” felt like they had a much more cohesive listening experience.
However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that “Music” as a whole is a really good album. Listeners new and old won’t be disappointed with Benny Sings’ most recently produced work.
Rating: 7/10
Reviewer’s Favorite Tracks: “Here It Comes,” “Rolled Up” and “Run Right Back”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Track: “Kids”
Jon Mead is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jkm6040@psu.edu.
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