Clear The Benches - Clear The Benches

Clear The Benches

Clear The Benches
self-released; 2023

​By ​Dino DiMuro

Clear The Benches is the new, self-titled EP by Nashville singer-songwriter Todd Joseph, recording under the band name Clear The Benches. Joseph is not looking for his music to be defined by genres but hopes to “reflect and give back to all the influences I’ve obtained over the years.” His sounds stretch from “anthemic alternative rock” all the way to Home Production in the Box, and are meant for “people who appreciate music in all its forms.”

Having heard the album through, I can confirm Joseph’s lack of fidelity to “genres.” I was treated to hard rock, hip hop, dreampop with rap, outlaw country, and folk rock, pretty much in that order. Though I have no album credits to work from, the other members of Clear The Benches are Matt Carter, Clark Singleton, and Solomon Behn.

“Baby Doll” leads the pack with sharp, bluesy guitars beneath mysterioso Dr. John-style vocals. It morphs into a slamming blues rocker with big keyboards and drums and a radio-friendly chorus. “I thought I would charm you, I guess I did not,” Joseph sings, and he couldn’t be more wrong!

Talk about skipping across genres: “So I Don’t” totally surprises with a hip hop arrangement and a heavy funk vibe. Joseph’s rap and chorus vocals are clever, amusing, and filtered through several effects. “Found a drug and abused it / because I liked the way it felt with the music.” The choruses are even better, sounding both like pure funk and wild, experimental rock. The interplay with the staccato guitars and retro keyboards is something to behold, and took me way back to high school (though I won’t say when that was!). “Rock The Boat” continues somewhat in the rap vein but with dreampop backing and gorgeous full-vocal choruses. Joseph’s harmonies are unique in that they’re mostly in the lower range, with different levels of bass and tenor without throwing in a high vocal “just because.”

“A Yankee In A Rebel Town” takes an unexpected turn into outlaw folk-country (the title is a clue, plus: “I wear a bullseye like a rodeo clown”). You got your sparkling clean acoustic leads and slides, paramilitary snare drum rolls, and Allmans-Little Feat influences. A good track that feels short! “It Happens All The Time” feels even more traditionally folky, with strummed acoustic guitars and tasteful keyboard backing. Joseph’s harmony vocals now reach from low to high (sounds like he has a female co-soloist too), and are recorded so intimately you feel he’s sitting on a stool just across from you.

“In The Revelry” ends the album on an uncertain note, as the track itself sounds like a distant signal from a shortwave radio. Stylistically, it continues the closeup, honest folks arrangement from the previous track. The little keyboard grace notes between verse and chorus have a magical, otherworldly quality. Lyrically, the song proudly embraces those times we all imbibe too much (partying, music, what have you), because we must. A very interesting mixture of styles for a relatively short EP, all worth checking out!

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