The Mood Elevator – 'Married Alive' (Laughing Outlaw) Released 16/04/07

Brendan Benson keeps himself busy, doesn’t he? Fresh from touring with The Raconteurs, he releases this offering with long-time collaborator Christopher Plum (Well, actually not: this has been in out in the US for about 4 years, but stilll...). Whilst The Raconteurs were in thrall to 60’s psych-rock, ‘Married Alive’ is a product of more mainstream concerns. Clearly concerning itself with classic songwriting and 70’s power-pop, at times the influences on display here are almost TOO blatant. On ‘Watch Your Girl,’ for example, you half expect Brian Wilson to bust in at any moment with his team of lawyers. This isn’t a knock per se, more an indication that the collection of songs the two have created here have a very timeless feel to them.

Comparisons to Big Star and Cheap Trick might be a little hasty, but there’s definitely much to enjoy here. As the title suggests, the album’s main concern is love and marriage, specifically contrasting the positive and negative aspects of both over the record’s duration. Things go from upbeat to downhearted in the blink of an eye. The electronica-tinged ‘Long Hard Look’ is full of ‘doo-doo-doo’s and energetic 3-chord guitar thrashing. This is immediately followed by a solemn sea-shanty in ‘Life Line’ and the melancholic ‘Beginner’s Luck.’ Despite the varying tone of the album, each of the songs retain elements of hope and the instrumentation is impeccable throughout.

Also impressive is the range of styles on display here, from the punk-ish ‘Best Kept Secret’ to the piano-led folk of ‘Anglophile.’ Perhaps the most commendable aspect of ‘Married Alive,’ however, is the way the songs fit with one another. Each track is different yet similar, and nothing seems out of place. For its sheer diversity, catchy hooks and pure pop harmonies, ‘Married Alive’ is a record that really deserves to be in your collection, even if you own every other Brendan Benson record.

It’s a rarity nowadays in that there isn’t one track here we'd consider sub-standard or skippable. Put it on, sit out in the sun and enjoy the gorgeous harmonies. Alternatively, put it on, sit in a darkened room and plot revenge on your ex. Everyone’s a winner.