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ALBUM REVIEW: “12 Notes” By Alec Benjamin

  • Post Author
    by Music director
  • Post Date
    Thu Oct 31 2024

BY: Martha Kowalski

About two years ago, I wrote a review of Alec Benjamin's debut album These Two Windows. About two years after that, I wrote a review of his (Un)commentary album. Seems likes there's a trend because here we are again, two years later, and I'm writing on yet another Alec Benjamin album. Perhaps though, the better trend is how each of my previous reviews consistently holds with each new album. 

Alec Benjamin, I dare say, is a lyrical wizard. Seriously, this guy must have a magic spell he casts over everything he writes to turn it into pure storybook poetry. Every single song he makes feels like it's telling an intricate narrative in just three or four minutes. In just three or four minutes, he can develop well-rounded characters, vivid scenery, and a complex plot, and better yet, an emotional plot twist through a clever play on words – I've read full novels with less depth than Benjamin's songs.  

Despite the verbosity of his lyrics, they never feel out of place with the music, perfectly paced and perfectly placed. This also means that the melody of his songs also does not need to be explosive, powerful, or sensationalized – in fact, simple guitar, some tambourine, and a good beat is really all he needs and all he does. A quick listen to “Pick Me” is enough of an example of how Benjamin's narration and simplified musicality merge effortlessly into quite a lovely track. For a track with more of an edge that still captures this seamless quality, note “Ways To Go,” and particularly note that stellar transition from the chorus to the verses – side note on how much I love the first verse.  

I find it hard to find a main theme to 12 Notes, but actually for me, that's okay. These Two Windows was all about introspective naivete; (Un)Commentary was more of a development into a coming-of-age maturity; I'm not too sure about 12 Notes. My best guess – and my best impression – is now Alec Benjamin knows his place in the world, in relationships, in what he can accomplish and the struggles he faces along the way and being responsible for his decisions. The best examples of this are “Lead Me To Water” to draw out the saying “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Another mature, thoughtful track was “The Arsonist” to be able to accept responsibility for a heartbreak and acknowledging fault; this was also in nice comparison to “By Now” where Benajmin highlights the fact that you may acknowledge a relationship is over but still have a hard time moving on, being foolish enough to make the mistakes that ended it but mature enough to realize it's not something you'll get over in no time. Still, life goes on, so maybe the theme of this song is just being able to keep going even if it wasn't “The Plan.” 

That said, there are also unbelievably romantic tracks on this album and one of those is my favorite song, the title track, 12 Notes. This song is classic Alec Benjamin melodically and lyrically. The parallelism between the verses is gorgeous, the second verse is particularly full of devotion and complete emotion even if he feels “it never feels complete”, and that chorus just gets me every time – I can listen to it on repeat the entire time. It also really showcases Benjamin's vocals that often get understated when he has to get out a dictionary of lyrics; once he has the chance, he can sustain those notes so well and his crescendos are stunning. Truly, I love this song so much – though I will admit, as a piano player, it took me embarrassingly long to figure out why it's 12 notes…  

My final notes – highlight tracks: “Pick Me”, “Different Kind of Beautiful”, and “By Now;” unexpected highlight: “Ways To Go;” stand-out moment: entirety of “12 Notes” though I'll give it more distinction than listing it as a highlight track. 

I need to stop worrying if Alec Benjamin will hit all the right notes – he hits all 12. This is probably one of the most consistent artists I know, and after three reviews for him, I continue to be a big fan.  

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ALBUM REVIEW ALEC BENJAMIN MARTHA KOWALSKI

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