Brendan Benson has shared a follow-up single to February’s “Good To Be Alive” with Tuesday’s release of “Richest Man”. Both songs will appear on Benson’s forthcoming studio effort, Dear Life, which is due out April 24th via Third Man Records and marks his first album since 2013’s You Were Right.
Benson is best known for his role with The Raconteurs, serving as the rock band’s guitarist, vocalist, and creative mind alongside co-founder Jack White. His solo work, however, takes on a lighter, poppier tone and feel than The Racs’ heavier, garage rocking sound. Even when compared to “Good To Be Alive”, “Richest Man” shows a much more upbeat and optimistic side of Benson, that may have even surprised himself.
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“I never thought I would write a song about domesticity,” said Benson in a press release. “When I wrote the words, I thought I would eventually change them to something a little less literal and ‘family man’, but in the end, I decided I liked the lyrics for those two reasons.”
The opening guitar riff is actually quite primal and raw, reminiscent of The Shys or Louis XIV, playing well with the vocal harmonization in the verses and choruses. The buoyant choruses also contain a horn section, something not often heard in Benson’s solo work or that of The Raconteurs. Listen below and scroll down for the full Dear Life tracklist. The single is available now on all streaming services. Click here for all available platforms and here to pre-order the April 24th release.
Brendan Benson – “Richest man”
[Video: Brendan Benson Music]
Benson has postponed his run of previously-announced headline U.S. tour dates due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has caused a mass shutdown of all live events. Rescheduled dates will be announced soon. Visit his website for updates and more information. Benson has been live-streaming a song from his Instagram every day at 4:20 p.m. CT as part of his “Boy In A Bubble” series. Click here to watch.
