Benjamin Tod Country Is Dead
Country artist Benjamin Tod unveils his new album, Country Is Dead, on which he covers 12 classic country songs by Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and Bob Dylan, among others.
Tod explains, “Some of these songs I started playing on the streets of Nashville when I was a teenager and shaped who I am as a writer and a musician. This was a full-circle kind of moment, and really a means of insight into who I am.”
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Andrija Tokic, the album was recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, and features the talents of Chris Gelb (drums), Paul Defiglia (bass), Sam Talmadge (guitar, backing vocals), Jeff Taylor (piano), Russ Pahl (steel guitar, additional guitar), Billy Contrera (fiddle), and backing vocals from Aron Tyler King, Caitlin Rose, Tebbs Karney, and Timbo.
Tod says, “My general take on covers is they either need to be done differently or done better. There’s a few that are impossible to do either with, but I think we hit that mark on most of this record. I wanted to take on the challenge of making new arrangements, and in some cases, reinventing old standards in completely different ways.”
Highlights on the album include “Waiting For A Train,” a drawling tune featuring a deliciously sawing fiddle, fat bassline, and a phase-shifting guitar. Tod’s voice carries just the right amount of sadness and country inflection.
A personal favorite because of its wavering, drifting flow and Tod’s evocative vocals, “Natural Thing To Do” travels on twangy textures that ripple with vintage country surfaces. Think Hank Williams covering George Strait, and you’ll have an idea of the feel of the song.
“Nashville Women” injects the album with some swampy flair, while allowing Tod to strut the drawling flavors of his wonderful voice.
“Long tall woman, you sure don’t have to talk / A long legged woman sure don’t have to talk / I know you’re from Nashville / I can tell by the way you walk…”
Another favorite because of its simple yet charismatic rhythm, “Color Of The Blues” cries out with the urgency of heartbroken blues. Tod’s vocals reveal a luscious, lolling drawl reminiscent of Hank Williams – the sensation of thick, honky-tonk emotions.
According to Tod, “I had to include a George Jones tune on this record, but it was almost impossible to decide which one. ‘Color Of The Blues’ has always been one of my favorites to listen to and was extremely challenging to sing because of the vocal dynamics. We slowed it down a bit so I could really dig into some of the vocal delivery and gave it a different flavor of production. Definitely not one I’ll be attempting to sing live anytime soon.”
Keith Whitley’s “Turn This Thing Around” ties the album off with the bright energy of a grand steel guitar, sparkling piano, and Tod’s vibrant voice.
On Country Is Dead, Benjamin Tod delivers some of the tastiest traditional country music around, pushing beyond great into superlative.
Discover more about Benjamin Tod here.
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW : Benjamin Tod “Vengeance and Grace”