Album Review- 'Brand New' by Ben Rector

ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Brand New’ by Ben Rector | Now Available on Aptly Named Recordings

by • August 31, 2015

The idea of going back to your roots or deliberately reminding fans of your early early days in music is always a little troublesome, especially for artists who have had at least some solid semblance of tangible success. Enter Ben Rector, who has garnered a ton of indie music prosperity since the release of his 2007 debut, Twenty Tomorrow. His latest full-length project, Brand New, finds the Tulsa, OK native aiming to rekindle some of the raw feel of his early singer-songwriter days. And although it doesn’t always succeed at translating that spirit across each track, Rector still manages to present a solid mixture of pristine pop rock and down home humility.

Brand New, above anything else, contains a sense of youthful exuberance and a willingness to take chances and “make big mistakes,” as indicated on the title track and lead single. “Brand New” allows Rector to begin the album with a distinct feel of a wavy airiness, as if both Rector and the listener are floating on a cloud on a sunny California day. Coupled with tribal drums which can be found on many of today’s biggest radio hits, and you’ve got yourself a stadium status track.

Soon enough, we’re treated to the nostalgic, memory lane reminiscence of “Favorite Song,” where Rector gives a nod to many pop hits of yesteryear that clearly helped to define his youth and musical inspiration. Listeners are also treated to similar longings on the lovelorn “Paris” and the sweetly melodic acoustics of “Note To Self”. But one of the biggest surprises comes from “The Men That Drive Me Places”: it is haunting, contemplative, and nearly gut-wrenching in the stripped-down, stark reality, and finds Rector questioning his growing celebrity while contemplating the everyday struggles of the people who allow him to be the music artist he is.

Though there is nothing truly distinctive about Ben Rector’s voice, he does well at staying in his lane and knowing his strengths as a singer. He never seems to try to overdo his vocals or outdo the songwriting. And his talent is reflected throughout Brand New, an album that’s very sunny and breezy at some points, downcast and maudlin at others. From the folksy twang and deceptive buoyancy of “Fear” to the playful irony of “Crazy,” Rector’s latest is a mixture of happy-go-lucky pop tunes and vulnerable, pondering songs revealing the artist’s’ ability to be unguarded.

In the end, Brand New is most successful when Rector is reflective on some of life’s greatest universal personal challenges including self-love, relationships, the pressures of success, living the best life you can, and yes, even longing for yesterday and going back to one’s roots. It doesn’t tread much in the way of new ground, but is sufficient in its ability to serve as a tool of musical sentimentality.

Album Review: ‘Brand New’ by Ben Rector, written by Ron Grant, edited by Matthew Weller.

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