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Benard

Benard (2006)
Alaska

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Brian
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on January 12th 2007

Here's some relatively self-important irony anyone not named "Brian Shultz" won't give a fifth of a shit about. Benard released a two-song single in 2005 that I gave a mildly positive review to and had a pretty decent amount to say considering the length. So here's their self-titled "full-length" (eight songs and 22 minutes? Full-length my ass. Just call it an EP -- you're selling it for $6 anyway!) and I really have no idea what to say.

Okay, so the band still construct rough and tumble indie rock tunes that sound vaguely like At the Drive-In. What else? How about how the EP's best, most intense song having the longest title length? "Someday I Might Just Rip Down a Shower Curtain and Wear It as a Cape, Anything Is Possible" is, in another bit of irony, also the shortest song here. How about those riffs in the last song, "Stand Up and Take the Sinnage?" I'm sensing a little bit of Cursive's "The Casualty" / "The Night I Lost the Will to Fight." Just a little bit.

I think my frustration with Benard lies in how absolutely rocking these songs are, yet how forgettable they are. Really, all eight songs are effective slabs of distorted, creative post-whatever, complete with dissonant, frothy vocals á la Planes Mistaken for Stars and lively guitars, but in the end I can't remember much of what actually went on. But hey, at least the experience was enjoyable.

For Benard's next effort, hopefully I'm left speechless for a totally different reason.

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istapledmyfoot (January 18, 2007)

also, to the dude below, you sound like kind of a weiner.

istapledmyfoot (January 18, 2007)

to the dude below, I'm pretty sure Brian knows his shit, and also, menusha? it's minutia, you dumb dumb.

MagneticRecordingCo (January 17, 2007)

The writer of this review has clearly had limited exposure to anything not on 'Fuse" or "MTV2" or whatever hip-uncool-ironic-pop-nonpop source of banal, menusha he's familiar with.

Which is totally fine. Everyone, at some point, was inexperienced and was initially exposed to new music.

My problem with this review is the air of wisdom where, clearly, there is none. My problem is in the lack of ability to hear something more than subtle, nearly false, comparability to mid 90's coke-induced screamers.

The record is good. Musically, I really enjoy the flow of songs and overall mix of taste that's apparent between the band members. I don't particulary care for the vocals, but that's purely based on my taste for complete individuality.

The writer's problem with album length, song length, and what the artist feels like calling their product is pure retardation. You know, like a retard. If the writer would like to produce a definition of any of those things from a reliable source (other than rolling stone magazine or whatever) that specifies why it should be an EP, or they should match the song titles to the song lengths, I'll gladly bow out and give over to the system.

Isn't this a punk music website?

Regards.
Jeremy

Anonymous (January 17, 2007)

Oh man. OH MAN. At the Drive In? Cursive? Okay. You know, okay. That's fine. One may only compare things to one's own experience. And 3 stars ain't bad.

I've been recording this band since before they started, and they keep growing... growing further away from anything this website seems to embrace or endorse (I'll be honest, this is the first time I've visited), and therefore inaccurate knee-jerk comparisons to the "Weirdest-band-I-can-think-of-at-the-moment" will abound in the future, and you know, that's okay. There's no ill-feelings coming from me, honest.

I will just encourage you all to please listen to their future releases, and remain speechless. Perhaps you might get used to it, and might be interested in influences outside your respective circles. Branch out a bit. There's a whole 50-something years of this music to explore, large and small from around 1965 or so to the present - and bands like Benard will continue to offer something different to those not satisfied with what Vagrant, Victory, Trustkill, Equalvision, Epitaph, Fat, Lobster, et al. have been trying to offer us , supposedly with good intentions (though I have other opinions), over the past decade or so.

As for my rating, I'll give this record 3.5-4 out of five stars. Not much better than Brian's, but that way for a different reason. You must see them live to get the full effect, and they need to keep growing and honing their craft before they'll put out a truly worthy Five-Star record. And they need to fucking tour, but that's being rectified very soon.

Anyway, I'd definitely pay $6 for this recording and suggest listening to "Heart of a Stripper" at the loudest possible volume. The recording was made and mastered to have best results at high volumes, like their live shows. Keep that in mind.

Carry on -
-Wiggins

Anonymous (January 14, 2007)

Scruffy... Maybe you should read someone's comments fully?

Scruffy (January 13, 2007)

"Also, it IS Punknews... that being said, i actually consider this review pretty phenominal. Especially since this isn't Taking Back Thrice or something else they'd normally give a good caramel tossed salad to."

Oh, for Heaven's sake, shut up. Maybe you're thinking of Absolute Punk. Or have you retards forgotten that anyone, anywhere can sbumit a review to this site? It can be 1 star or 10. The content of these reviews is not beyond your control. Maybe you should've reviewed this and given it that hyperbolic 10 you want to give it.

Anonymous (January 12, 2007)

Great album. I wouldn't compare it to ATDI. The guitar sound is much thicker and the vocals are a bit more intense and less melodic. I'd say maybe more of a heavier, darker Drive like Jehu.
Benard is a great band to catch live too, if you don't mind a good bit of ringing in your ears to follow.

Anonymous (January 12, 2007)

Aw, come on now. The review aint bad. You can tell he wanted to like em, and is giving his honest opinion. What more can you ask for in a review? I may not agree with it, in fact, i LOVE this band, but you gotta take em as they come.

Also, it IS Punknews... that being said, i actually consider this review pretty phenominal. Especially since this isn't Taking Back Thrice or something else they'd normally give a good caramel tossed salad to.

Anonymous (January 12, 2007)

Fuck this review! What a cocksucker. The album is great.

Anonymous (January 12, 2007)

This band is pretty fucking great. Their singer is like 4 feet tall and looks like he's about 12. Awesome!