The View From Here - Album Reviews
Rootstime.be (translated from Dutch)
Who knows the song "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" by Bob Dylan? You must already be well at home in the music world and have been on the counter for years to recognize the closing track of Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" album from 1967. Nevertheless, this song was often covered in the past 50 years, including "My Morning Jacket", Johnny Cash, Ben E. King, Cher, Jeff Beck and The Black Crowes.
It is now also the only cover song on the new album "The View From Here" by California singer-songwriter Tim Bennett, and that choice instantly indicates where this artist from Orange County has gained his inspiration as a composer and performer. His country and rock-based songs sound fresh, both sad and cheerful, and song lyrics are taken from everyday life and each listener will get to know something deeper.
The new record was recorded in the first two months of this year and follows the album "Inevitable Discovery" released last year, his debut as a solo artist. Prior to that, Tim Bennett was active as lead singer and songwriter in the Americana band Whistler's Father, which released the album “Highly Irregular” in 2015. On "The View From Here", some musicians from the Whistler's Father sessions return; Pianist Hal Ratliff, guitarist Rick White, bassist Ernie Nunez, and drummer Roger Gillespie, together with Tim Bennett, provide a great band for the songs on this album.
The song "As Long As You're Buying" and "Forgive & Forget" will be started right away, then switch to a quieter ballad through the beautiful song "There Was Nothing I Could Do" (see video ). Being objective to put more swinging songs on this album led to songs such as "Coulda Woulda Shoulda", "A Dangerous Man", "Ain’t Got Time For This" and "The End Of The Line "with which the disc is appropriately closed.
These track-breaking tracks are the funky blues song "Hot Town", just like on the calm-forward ballad "I'll Be Expecting You" and the emotional tearjerker "Awakened By My Breaking Heart" on which Tim Bennett also plays harmonica, that we as our favorite track from the very enjoyable, enjoyable album "The View From Here".
Country Standard Time
The second solo release from Southern California singer/songwriter Tim Bennett is a pleasant mix of country, blues, rock and folk. The strongest country tracks are the ballad "There Was Nothing I Could Do," a classic country tearjerker about a painful breakup ("She seemed to lose all feeling as though she didn't care/She looked off in the distance as if I wasn't there"), and the acoustic "Awakened By My Breaking Heart," which features Bennett's most passionate vocals as well as his hot harmonica solo. Similarly "I'll Be Expecting You" is a cheating song that ends sadly ("But you didn't show/I guess you changed your mind/It's probably best we both/Leave the past behind").
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Robert Wooldridge - August 27, 2017
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Indie Voice Blog
Review:
With a voice akin to Merle Haggard, Tim Bennett’s music will appeal to Americana and hard-core country fans equally. It has all the elements of Merle’s music, with a down-home feel that begs you to throw your boots on and get up and boogie. Like Merle, Bennett knows how to tell a story, and his lyrics will get into your heart and deliver their truth, while the music will give your ears something to celebrate. The album features both upbeat songs as well as tearjerkers that will make you want to reach out and hug your sweety. Underneath it all is a collection of outstanding musicians that have been called “the Wrecking Crew of country music.” This album is definitely a keeper and deserves your attention.
Recommendation:
If you love country or Americana music, then you simply must add this album to your collection. Get out and Get it.
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August 15, 2017
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Off The Record
Set to drop on August 11, 2017, the album is a well-worked compilation of songs with multiple subjects including heartache, unemployment and death. Wanting to make the disc more upbeat, however, Bennett decided to stretch a bit and include some songs that rock. At the same time though, he generally manages to remain true to the project’s original country roots. So while you’re shopping for music, pick up Tim Bennett’s The View From Here “As Long As You’re Buying.”
Will Phoenix - July 2017
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Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
The outlook from where you sit can be the one that not only determines your mood but has the ability to shape you as a human being, the position you take into any fight, conversation or relationship and yet to say that The View From Here is the only one that is available is not trust the artist to show you another level, another position in which your stance can be changed.
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Tim Bennett’s new album The View From Here is one that has the power to change a mind, let alone sound as if it was written and performed with the single aim of being so attention grabbing that it could offer points of interest that include the tallest New York skyscraper, the skyline over the Appalachian Mountains and the heat and fun bounding off any Californian beach whilst all the time placing each foot in the warmth of the seas off the Gulf of Mexico; an all round perspective with a view that never gets tiring.
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Ian D. Hall - June 7, 2017
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On August 11th, singer/songwriter Tim Bennett is preparing to release his second solo album titled "The View From Here." The new 11-song release begins with the up-beat, country rock of "As Long As You're Buying" and the steady, soulful delivery of "Forgive & Forget." Tim pours his emotions into the gentle sway of "There Was Nothing I Could Do," before picking the tempo back up with the guitar-boogie shuffle of "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda." He brings out the country blues of "Hot Town," before delivering a spot-on cover of Bob Dylan's "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You." The album closes with the acoustic, cowboy tale "Awakened By My Breaking Heart" and the steady flow of the classic country sound of "The End Of The Line." To find out more about Tim Bennett and his latest release "The View From Here," please visit his Facebook page at facebook.com/tbennettmusic.
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Jim Pasinski - May 30, 2017
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Midwest Record
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In which we find Americana hooking up with honky tonk and country rock leavened with today's reality for a wild ride that is the sound of middle America partying it up in the Walmart parking lot (possibly before the trailers get repossessed). Letting the good times roll in the best of take this job and shove it traditions, this set shows how you can be young if you are young at heart (and have a back to go with it). Fun stuff that works throughout.
Chris Spector - May 27, 2017
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