CD Review

Garrin Benfield’s second album, Nowhere Is Brighter encompasses a 16 song mix of storytelling amidst a voice that is more rock yearning, but never goes over the fence into whiny, sappy, cliché singer songwriter grounds. Featured among this unhurried effort is Bonnie Raitt’s rhythm section and also along for the ride is Charlie Gillingham of the Counting Crows, Julie Wolf of Ani DiFranco’s band, Danny Cao of Vinyl, and Mr. Boz Scaggs.

What makes Nowhere is Brighter such a unique listen, is that it feels like a continous mood album, perhaps almost in the form of a lyrical Windham Hill compilation. Providing for peaceful and thought provoking background music within a mix of soothing and blues pop, seldom causing a flinch - it’s almost a brand of folk jazz…. if there is such a thing. Benfield’s extraordinary range is displayed in the title track in which he soulfully emphasizes the word, "nowhere," that in the end, it calls for only four other words to be sung. "Hungry Ghost" taps along a seductive rhythm set by his backing band, while "Lonely Journey" shows how Benfield can play with a bit of country twang while delivering his "lonesome" howls with legitimacy. "Tonight, I Know" echoes with a bit of laid-back 70’s radio rock and the playful rock of "Crazy Love" is right out of the Bonnie Raitt songbook for better or worse. In the end, perhaps 16 original songs is almost too ambitious for Benfield, as there is quite a bit to digest within this collection. Either way, Nowhere is Brighter is all about the mood, and it’s quite a easy-going vibe for an artist you’ll soon be hearing a lot more about.