Brendan Benson

Brendan Benson was doing just fine by himself before Jack White came along, thank you. The Michigander cut three delicious slabs of power-pop lunch meat before joining the Raconteurs. That supergroup’s success has led to a wider audience, bigger label and better producer (Gil Norton of Pixies fame) for this trip across the ’70s AM-radio dial. You get the sense the title refers to no flesh-and-blood buddy but some battered guitar or Fleetwood Mac LP.

Bleacher-stomping glam, la-la-la sing-alongs, string-drenched soul, California balladry and heartland disco are all masterfully carved from the kind of organic sound that can only come from a guy with a fetish for vintage gear. Benson applies organs and ooohs like wood paneling to the sides of cars. It’s pure warm and fuzzy nostalgia, but we challenge 2009 to produce a catchier rock song than “A Whole Lot Better” or “Poised and Ready” or “Don’t Want to Talk” or…man, how weren’t the Raconteurs amazing again?

Benson hits Schubas for two sets Thursday 20.

Buy it from Amazon.com

• More album reviews
• More Music articles