Review: Benjamin Tod ‘Shooting Star’
It is a strange dilemma for a fan when we are drawn to an artist who articulates pain and sorrow in a way that speaks to us. Should they change, be it by kicking drugs or slaying the demon alcohol, they are bound to have a newfound perspective on life, and naturally, this will impact the music they produce. This has certainly been true for the output (and actions) of some artists I once adored but no longer have that connection with.
Lately however, it has occurred to me that whilst the listener might wish for their newer music to continue to deliver that cathartic rush from a listening standpoint, we seldom consider that it has come at the price of real human suffering for the individual.
Much like the recent Lost Dog Street Band album, Survived, the latest release from frontman Benjamin Tod comes off the back of a confessional laser-guided tour of personal pain. 2022’s Songs I Swore I’d Never Sing was Tod at his rawest and most vulnerable; It was an incredible album that reduced me to tears and topped my end-of-year list such was the mournful power and beauty of the record.
However, for the Tennessee native, it was him laying many of the ghosts of the past to bed and allowing him to move on to more positive endeavours which made me recall a quote from Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan, where he said that after he had screamed about something on record, he could leave that phase behind and keep moving forward.
The resulting ten-track Shooting Star, released through Thirty Tigers – an independent music marketing, distribution and management company for independent artists based – shares an upbeat vibe similar to his band’s Survived album from earlier this year. Stylistically calling on the influence of the country music history that has been baked into his formative years, in particular honky-tonk, lends a lighter feeling to the album than the gritty folk punk carved out in his earlier output, as he seeks to pay tribute and explore the music of the last six or seven decades.
That is not to say there aren’t moments when Shooting Star isn’t capable of delivering a gut punch to the emotions, for example on Saguaro’s Flower along with the title track, the soulful, wrenching, emotional outpouring the man excels at seeps through, tugging at the heart string and bringing tears to even the most stoic of listeners.
an elite writer, whatever his mental state, and Shooting Star simply proves this yet again…
The former updates the laid-bare acoustic track from 2019’s A Heart Of Gold Is Hard To Find with a full accompaniment of tinkling piano keys, gently strummed guitar and knocking drums that resonate, somehow making lines like ‘Any relief that gets me to sleep outside of a grave…’ and the central hook cut deeper.
The latter has the same melancholy pulse and raw honesty that not even the flamenco style and dual vocal harmonies can soften. Tod‘s love of the music through the decades that shaped him as an artist shines through stylistically and lead single I Ain’t The Man augments the light tempo with slides and bends as the violin glances off the guitar flourishes with his southern drawl sounding as energised and healthier than he has in years.
Over this gentle march, he shows the biting lyrics that make him such a striking artist as he sends a message to the ‘soft-handed, cosplay cowboys’ in the Nashville scene and Back Toward The Blue shows a lighter touch as the lazy waltz weeps with lush strings as he wishes his former belle fare thee well despite still loving her.
This more mentally grounded Tod shines through in further tracks like the jazz vibe of Satisfied With Your Love and its tapping, pattering drums. The catchy up-tempo lyrics dazzle with wordplay referencing his transient past and nodding wink to his band name. This happier feeling continues on the penultimate track, Tramp Like Me, which rocks back and forth with a foot-stamping, hoedown-esque dynamic as he extols his diamond in the rough virtues and underrated guitar skills with a fantastic solo.
Mary Could You sees a return to the storytelling style previously enjoyed on such numbers as Hubberville Store from Survived; this faster boogie has a rock and roll vibe with the hooky, stomping pace, keyboard runs and catchy premise.
This oft-playful album does balance its moments of levity with sombre numbers such as Like It Or Not with thoughtful strings and plodding bass forming the backbone complete with guitar embellishments while Tod laments that he’s still in love, despite the state of his relationship and later gives us the tender longing of Nothing More.
The album finishes on the gospel-flavoured One Last Time, featuring multifaceted singer-songwriter Sierra Ferrell, who shares the heart-aching vocals that are moving in a hopeful manner.
On the surface, it is easy to look at Shooting Star and consider it a less essential piece of work that lacks the visceral impact of the likes of Weight Of A Trigger or War Inside Of Me, but as I opened with, Tod‘s latest album finds him more mentally at peace, a peace that a few years ago didn’t seem possible and for that, we should all be thankful. The man is an elite writer, whatever his mental state, and Shooting Star simply proves this yet again.
Label: Thirty Tigers
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Mark Hunt-Bryden