Benjamin Booker
by Benjamin Booker
  • Record Label: ATO
  • Release Date: Aug 19, 2014
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. American Songwriter
    Aug 21, 2014
    60
    It’s tough and grimy but you have to wonder how many others are out there bashing out similarly trashy rock who haven’t gotten Booker’s breaks
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Aug 18, 2014
    60
    On close examination, his songcraft often stalls at the pupal (but promising) stage, but there is enough chutzpah here to steamroller such reservations.

Awards & Rankings

90
#90 Best Album of 2014
74
#74 Most Shared Album of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 19
  3. Negative: 2 out of 19
  1. AJawesome07
    Oct 10, 2014
    9
    Refreshing is what comes to mind when listening to Booker's debut album. It makes me happy to listen to this album, because Benjamin BookerRefreshing is what comes to mind when listening to Booker's debut album. It makes me happy to listen to this album, because Benjamin Booker has so obviously put nothing but his utmost care and soul into this. The Blues are extremely strong here as well. Booker's vocals may be slightly polarizing, and the quality of the production, being very muddled may turn people away at the outset, but don't abandon this album, it's a pleasure to listen to.
    It's fast, and almost punk-ish at times, during the first 20 minutes. "Violent Shiver", the first track, and most popular has a brilliant and energizing riff, and Slow Coming is unusually slow compared to the rest of the first half of the album, but it's a haunting song, with the opening words being: "at the top of the hour/ today in my news/ a little girl is shot down/ while tying her shoes/ honestly I cannot be proud right now." Have You Seen My Son is a visceral, deeply personal number, about his parent's inability to cope with their son's decision to be a musician, and after this is where things start to slow down for good, with "Spoon Out My Eyeballs" and "I Thought I Heard You Screaming" being purely beautiful songs. This is a great album, through and through.    … Full Review »
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