Record Label: Stinky Records
Genre: Indie
Band Link: link
Buy on Amazon.com link

Benzo is so kitchen-sink that it’s a wonder that they still manage to be decent.

Take the first song. It’s got spacey ambient noises, rock piano, electric boogaloo funky bass, vocals that range from heartland rock to emo to U2ish, and indie guitars that have Yes-like flourishes.

Other songs start off with a similar blueprint, ending with varying levels of success. When they play it straight (well, straight for them), they can be interestingly textured indie that is appealingly pleasant sounding. But anytime they throw in dance punk or disco or church organs or dub or any countless other things that suck, I can’t help but cringe.

There’s complex and layered and then there’s being pointlessly excessive. It’s like they’re making the ultimate ice cream sundae, adding layers and layers of tasty toppings, but then they lose focus and start adding sun-dried tomatoes and horseradish.

I give them credit for trying new things and mashing up different styles, but while experimentation and creativity is important, so is restraint.

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