Some might worry about dropping a debut album in the midst of a pandemic, but the bedroom-singer vibes and melancholic lyrics on Alec Benjamin’s debut suits 2020 perfectly.
Last year, Benjamin enjoyed global success with his breakout single Let Me Down Slowly. Fans flocked to him for his emotional and relatable takes on heartbreak and growing up.
A year on, this still stands. The writing on These Two Windows is personal and vulnerable, making the listener feel as if they are at a living room gig. Benjamin writes about love with nuance, pinpointing the pain of failed young relationships and actions driven by anxiety: “For a moment I thought maybe I was doing alright/So I took your love for granted and left you behind/And I didn’t understand, you kept me alive,” he sings on Demons.
It’s a shame that his striking words can be wrapped up in unremarkable musicality. The songs are catchy, but the standard fare pop can undermine the powerful writing. But at just 25 years old, if his flawless storytelling continues, the only way is up.
