Dear Life
by Brendan Benson
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. PopMatters
    May 26, 2020
    80
    It's a great, modern pop-rock album. I don't think he'll need Jack White's phone number for quite a while.
  2. American Songwriter
    Apr 24, 2020
    80
    Benson writes about life’s ups and downs. But musically this short (just over 30 minutes) yet taut collection delivers all the power pop goods you’ll need.
  3. Uncut
    Apr 23, 2020
    80
    Several nuggets of power-pop excellence here that rank with the best on 2002's Lapalco. [May 2020, p.23]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. DIY Magazine
    Apr 23, 2020
    80
    His most experimental release to date.
  6. Glide Magazine
    Apr 23, 2020
    80
    Overall Benson has crafted an enjoyable, thoughtful slice of pop-rock on Dear Life, embracing his classic rock love while not limiting the scope of his sound and voice.
  7. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jun 17, 2020
    70
    Classic don't need varnish. [Jul 2020, p.87]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. musicOMH.com
    May 5, 2020
    70
    While there’s nothing that tugs at the heartstrings as much as Metarie did all those years ago, Dear Life is a reminder that Brendan Benson remains a terrific songwriter. He’s still too much of a quirky proposition to make it big, but Dear Life is a great big burst of sunshine in an all too dark world.
  9. AllMusic
    Apr 23, 2020
    70
    It's exciting to hear Benson take some new risks with these songs, but also a relief that he never gets too far away from the deft songwriting and pop sensibilities that he's been refining for all these years.
  10. Slant Magazine
    Apr 23, 2020
    70
    Ultimately, Benson’s impeccable melodic instincts justify Dear Life’s largely featherweight tone.
  11. Q Magazine
    May 5, 2020
    60
    Style and contentment. [Jul 2020, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. The Telegraph (UK)
    Apr 24, 2020
    60
    There are interesting multi-part song structures and deft modern production quirks, with touches of autotune and sampling that don’t overwhelm the more classic guitar and keyboard arrangements. Melodies are big and bright and everything is encased in walls of harmonies.
  13. Mojo
    Apr 23, 2020
    60
    A giddy, unpredictable pop record that put new spins on every cliche it touches, while Benson;s innately McCartneyesque melodic gift successfully sells every occasionally saccharine lyric. [Jun 2020, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Lajaleaa
    Jun 17, 2020
    7
    ( 75/100 )

    Benson, miembro de The Raconteurs, es un viejo con la energía creativa de un joven. Comenzó su carrero en 1996 y sus esporádicas    ( 75/100 )

    Benson, miembro de The Raconteurs, es un viejo con la energía creativa de un joven. Comenzó su carrero en 1996 y sus esporádicas apariciones en la industria de la música lo han llevado a un gran reconocimiento en el mundo del Alternative-Rock. La razón (y lo demuestra en "Dear Life" después de 7 años de su último álbum) es la fácil fusión lograda entre ritmos clásicos y estéticas contemporáneas. Por lo tanto, su música tiene estructuras versátiles, enérgicas, de gran Rock, pero también audaces en su composición. Cambios drásticos de humor y de dirección rítmica hacen de "Dear Life" un álbum entretenido sobre el romance y la devoción desenfrenada. A pesar de eso, también hay cierto cliché Pop, pues la producción, por él mismo, usa una combinación de formulas que hace que el proyecto realmente no sea nada nuevo, sino una exploración y experimentación de la energía que el Power-Pop ya ha presentado antes.
    -
    Benson, a member of The Raconteurs, is an old man with the creative energy of a young person. His career started in 1996 and his sporadic appearances in the music industry have given him a big recognition in the Alternative-Rock world. The reason (and he shows it in "Dear Life" after 7 years of his last album) is the easy fusion achieved between classic rhythms and contemporary esthetics. Therefore, his music has versatile structures, energetic, of great Rock, but also audacious composition. Drastic changes of humor and rhythmic directions make "Dear Life" an entertaining album about romance and rampant devotion. Even though that, there's also Pop cliche, since the production uses a combination of formulas that make of the project nothing really new, but an exploration and experimentation of the energy that Power-Pop has presented before.    … Full Review »
  2. Sharkisue
    Apr 25, 2020
    10
    Amazing new music that can be enjoyed in any gathering. This music appeals to multiple generations.
See all user reviews »