Brendan Benson

Most rock fans may know Brendan Benson from his costarring role in the Raconteurs, but his solo career deserves the kind of widespread acceptance that Wilco, Death Cab and the White Stripes enjoy. Benson's melodic power-pop gifts are still in full force, but this time out he also brings in some real psych-rock muscle on tunes like "Eyes on the Horizon." How good is Brendan Benson? Well, you can't really call out the best songs here -- the eleven tunes buzz with nonstop spiky hooks and sing-along melodies. Benson deserves to be your radio's familiar friend.