BENJ-O-MATIC: benj-o-matic

Benj-O-Matic

benj-o-matic

© 2002 copyright benjy johnson 2000 (634479051005)

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Driving guitar rock in an age of manufactured pop stars.. Benj-O-Matic (the disc) has recently been described by a total stranger as "a mix of Lenny Kravitz, Ben Folds, early Foreigner, Sammy Hagar and Zeppelin.

tracks

1 Lil' G's Magic Box
2 Fine Romantic
3 Front Page
4 Nicotine and Gasoline
5 The ballad of Ol' Scratch
6 Rain Coat
7 Plastic Francis
8 Channel L
9 (I killed the) Writin' Spider
10 Come on in it
11 Soda Pop

notes

From the time he was fifteen, he knew what he wanted to do. After four years of grade- school band classes, he walked in the music store and traded in his saxophone for an electric guitar and amp. The neighborhood was never quite the same.

The year 2001 spawned the birth of Benj-O-Matic, the musical vision project of North Carolina's own Benjy Johnson. The self-released debut CD, simply titled "benj-o-matic", is a tightly woven collection of eleven tunes written, recorded and performed by Benjy. Although he tried to play all the instruments on the record, he got a lot of help from such friends as Ben Folds' guitarist Snuzz and other close musical accomplices. The influences heard on the record are numerous. ESP magazine's Allison King says, "it's rock, but it's been beat-up a bit, rolled around in the dirt and run through some funk PC.

Radio would lay down and die for his pop-funk grooves."(ESP magazine Sept. 6th, 2000)

With song titles like "Lil' G's magic box" and "Plastic Francis", you know you're in for something different right off the bat.

Without looking too hard, the ultimate touring band has fallen into place. Ex-Geezer Lake drummer Scotty Irving makes sure things don't get too redundant to say the least. His solo project, Clang Quartet, has recently been the subject of a independent documentary entitled "Armor of God" showing at film festivals around the globe. Bassist John Harrison whips out the funk and smears it right on your forehead! Featured in the April 2001 issue of Bass Player magazine, John is the most downloaded bassist of mp3.com. He also has released a solo instrumental record entitled "Bassicks" that will floor you.

The 2002 year has already been a resounding success. They have wowed the crowds in support slots for such bands as Athaneaum, Vanessa Carlton, Cowboy Mouth and Evan Olson and will continue until the wheels fall off the van.......
-somewhere damp / june 2002

reviews

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  • A rollicking good time
    author: The Non-Conformist Cult Radio Show

    Damn fine CD! I play it all the time on my college radio show, WQFS 90.9 FM. Not a bad cut on it. Great lyrics go along great with catchy hooks. 'Fine Romantic' gets stuck in my head for days after every listen. It's catchy as hell. 'Plastic Francis' paints you a picture about some of the hip youth of today. 'Channel L'... not often you hear songs with Granny mentioned. Tres' cool, baby

  • One of NC's best bands rawkin' out with great tunes!
    author: Dan Greene

    At the very first word of the opening monologue segue into the rocking riff of album opener Lil G's Magic Box, you know you're in for something deliciously different with this record. This continues throughout this self-produced platter of people's singer-songwriter meets passionate guitar slinger musical snapshots. Songs like the lilting Front Page, the wah-wah funk workout Plastic Francis, the twin guitar singalong Come On In It ,and the rollicking set closer Soda Pop will have you signing on board for the energy, then coming back again and again to explore the deceptively clever depth of the always unique lyrics. In short- buy this record and play it loud and often!

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