Benson's is a name that deserves to be remembered. As one of the leading exponents of power pop, the Detroit resident already has a clutch of famous admirers, notably Jack White, for his two previous releases - both superb, both bypassed by the masses.

The term power pop is, in itself, fairly insulting, suggesting brainless three-minute novelties. One listen to The Alternative To Love shows that this is an intelligently crafted piece of work. Benson does suffer from another of the genre's limitations, lame rhyming lyrics, but paints with a far broader range of colours than most. It is all enthused with a highly appealing energy, and the current single, Spit It Out, is irresistible. This is an album by a man who deserves to be the alternative to success no longer.

Updated: 08:47 Thursday, March 24, 2005