All
music journalists like to claim to find "the next big thing",
but 25 year-old Benjamin Booker might be IT. Although, he is already
opening for Jack White even before his debut album hits stores this
coming Tuesday, August 19th - so I hardly discovered him.
His self-titled debut was produced by Andrija Tokic, producer of
Hurray for the Riff Raff, and another former White opener, The
Alabama Shakes. The album opener and single Violent Shiver grabs
you with an immediate
riff, making you think of Chuck Berry. Booker
describes his music as “punk blues.” Throughout the album you
certainly hear that
attitude and vibe of punk and blues (maybe
some Strokes, Black Keys type
instrumentation & old school rocknroll)...but
it is THAT voice that hooks you in and makes you press play again and
again. It's hard to believe
Booker's
25, the voice so raspy you think he's spent a lifetime yelling,
making his voice hoarse.The album is an uptempo and loud affair, but Booker pulls you in further in the softer and intimate fourth track, Slow Coming. The song makes you believe there is a maturity in Booker's talent that is beyond just his weathered voice. He sings, “At the top of the hour...little girl is shot down...honestly, how can I be bothered now?”
Booker is a songwriter, which is also exemplified in one of the best and most rocking tracks, Have You Seen My Son? He sings, “Told me that the world is full of sins / and placed a bible at my feet...I say God must love everyone / even the ones the church loves the least...and when a mother loves a child / she'll do almost anything.” At the end, this song takes a turn, first sounding like a march and then exploding into a Rage Against the Machine/Black Keys type riff. See Booker performing this song on Conan below:
The elephant in the room, which might be part of the attraction to his music, is that Booker is one of few African Americans playing rocknroll these days (correct me if I'm wrong and send me some suggestions). Born in Tampa, Booker is based out of New Orleans. When talking to NPR about his influences, he cited gospel, punk, and old rhythm and blues musicians such as Muddy Waters and others that took their sound from the south to Chicago. The influence of those guys will never be replicated, but hopefully Booker will inspire other young people to pick up a guitar and write sincere songs like he does.
