My Old, Familiar Friend
by Brendan Benson
  • Record Label: ATO
  • Release Date: Aug 18, 2009
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. musicOMH.com
    60
    My Old Familiar Friend seems to be an album with modest aspirations which, for the most part, it achieves.
  2. Observer Music Monthly
    60
    The Michigan singer-songwriter is now best known for providing the Raconteurs with tunes and his fourth solo album adds a splash of their heaviness to his trademark Beatles-indebted pop.
  3. Spin
    60
    Though Benson’s fourth solo album is less distinctive and more finessed than the work of his money gig, it still puts his secondhand fame in perspective.
  5. Uncut
    60
    There have been worse ideas, it's true. All round, though, it feels like a man with a gun in his back, being forced to be upbeat. [Sep 2009, p.79]
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  6. The A.V. Club
    58
    How odd, then, that so much of Friend is a celebration of aimlessness that, coincidentally, quickly loses focus.
  7. Drowned In Sound
    50
    The milquetoast, wholegrain rock of My Old, Familiar Friend never really rises out of the mire to become anything other than a pleasant and forgettable toe-tapper.
  8. No Ripcord
    50
    Not only does the music feel like filler and lacking in substance but the album itself feels like it’s only purpose is to merely keep music ticking over until something worthwhile comes along.
  9. Under The Radar
    40
    When Benson's good he's great, but when he's only average--as he is throughout the better part of this disc--he's barely distinguishable from any number of '70s-inspired songwriters. [Fall 2009, p.61]
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User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

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. CodyT
    Feb 2, 2010
    7
    Vastly underrated CD. Maybe Benson SHOULD have a put a sticker on the album explaining his involvement with the Raconteurs....might of got a Vastly underrated CD. Maybe Benson SHOULD have a put a sticker on the album explaining his involvement with the Raconteurs....might of got a few more people to discover his solo music. Aside from a few disposable bubblegum pop tracks this record is his best solo outing yet.… Full Review »
  2. CarlO.
    Sep 25, 2009
    9
    I find myself surprisingly in love with this album. Other than appreciating a couple of his singles, I've never dug into his stuff I find myself surprisingly in love with this album. Other than appreciating a couple of his singles, I've never dug into his stuff before and only checked it out on a whim when it was streamed on Spinner. Well, I've since found it to be a slice of power pop heaven - along the lines of endearing, hooky icons like Jason Falkner and Matthew Sweet. It's actually in the running for my favorite album of the year.… Full Review »
  3. TonyM
    Aug 24, 2009
    8
    Stands up well against lapalco and alternative to love, any justice this album will make Benson better known for his solo work.
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