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'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"England may not look like a hotbed of heavy metal from these shores, but Ten Benson are proof that muscular,
old-school hard rock is alive and well across the Pond. With four British releases under their belt, they’re making
their US debut with Benson Burner, and it comes on strong with a confident mix of burly AC/DC riff rock and swampy
ZZ Top blooze boogie. Thick, serpentine guitars wind their way through "Dark Forces," a song that gives singer/guitarist
Chris Teckkam a chance to flex his vocal muscles and relate his twisted world view (he worked for a time in a mental
hospital and was, it’s clear, inspired by some of his experiences there). As the title suggests, "Tits" celebrates
the kind of heavy-metal excesses that went out of style in the PC alterna-punk ’90s, but with a wry sense of humor
that’s as potent as the wiry guitar leads and Andy Zammit’s splattering drum bursts. There’s also a hint of glam
in "Nobody’s Wife," which swaggers like a classic T. Rex number, proving that Benson Burner have a refreshingly broad
view of heavy metal. " |
SARAH TOMLINSON - THE PORTLAND PHOENIX
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Once upon a time, there lived a place called British Land. British Land was famous for two kinds of music: experimental
electronic music, and faggy pop rock. One day, it was 2003. British Land and Americasville-- a neighboring country, floating
East, across the ocean-- were overrun by millions of evil bands made up of skinny little boys in tight clothing, constantly
pushing their shaggy hair out of their too-cool-for-school eyes. Local women locked their doors and cotton-balled their ears
to muffle the wimpy, sensitive sound. The men were too afraid to fight the invasion, out of fear that they, too, would become
gender-bending trends. And the children-- oh, the children. They simply prayed, day in and day out, for a savior to deliver
them from such Cockney evil.
One day, a great rumbling occurred. The ground began to part, and from deep within the Earth, fire shot forth, burning all
in it's path. Out of the ashes rose a mighty rock phoenix named Ten Benson. Ten Benson annihilated all pussy-ass diary-rockers
in their way to ultimate rock 'n' roll. They launched wicked songs about titties and war (Well, fuck my cock-- two of my
favorite things!), and put the 'hell, yeah' back into kick-ass rock songs. " |
TLCHICKEN.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Start up the barbecue and get ready for some mud slinging. Benson Burner is dirty, gritty, and proud of it.
Ten Benson is thundering male rock. What more can be said about a band that has chorus of
'TITS… TEENAGE TITS' in one of their songs. Ten Benson is here to bring the rock and destroy a
world overrun by pop. RIYL: ZZ Top, AC/DC, Beer " |
BOSTON ELITE
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Up till now good ol' smut and roll has been a North American monopoly, but hold on to your
naughty bits folks cuz here comes UK's Ten Benson. Thick and sludgy dual guitar riffs that pack a
mighty punch will no doubt endear these greasy fellas to slaves of the rawk. With vocoder vocals
distorting the delivery, these pranksters, much like the Butthole Surfers, have more to say than
the average guitar dudes. Sardonic masters of the three chord monte disguised as trailer trash:
only in Britain." |
COSMIK DEBRIS
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Some music’s for lovemaking, and some music's for molesting your co-worker's wife.
"Benson Burner" falls into the latter category in all its grease-stained, boot-stomping glory.
Don't let the fact that Ten Benson is a quintet of Britainers fool you: this throwback rock gang
channels equal parts AC/DC and ZZ Top, albeit without any of the metaphysical depth or general
good taste you wouldn't have realized those groups had until this disc had been spinning for a
few tracks. How can you go wrong with a song called "Tits"? You can't. And by the time you hear
vocalist Chris Teckkam singing "I am the robot tourist," appropriately enough in the song
"Robot Tourist," you'll have no doubt that all is right with the world. Thank god these guys are
musicians, because I'd hate to see them around power tools. " |
REPELLENT SOUNDS
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records) Record of the Month
"Pioneering the comeback of Neanderthal Rock are four kids from East London called Ten Benson. Packing a truckload
of AC/DC meet Ted Nugent riffs into a colossal 12 tracks on their Jet Set (US) debut 'Benson Burner', the band converge a
low-fi edge with titanic density and pull off one of the most exciting records of the year. When asked how the Benson boys
developed their sound they responded, "The 'sound' of Ten Benson probably has more to do with intent than music. That and
sitting around drinking endless cups of tea and cans of beer in a damp basement filled with rock-wool. At first glance you
might be forgiven for thinking that you recognize certain elements of our custom-built vehicle. But take a moment to look
under the bonnet (hood) and you'll find something fundamentally different. It's taken years to develop, in enforced isolation,
and we're still no nearer the truth. So what can we expect when the band bring their raging stage show from across the
pond. "Smoke, sweat, string-vests, twin-axe assault, Simon Weston 'Syndrome'," says Teckkam, "also girls with large breasts
trying to pull us off the stage, old guys with long grey beards dancing like puppets, bum-bunnies, nippers gannin' berserk
and asking for us to autograph their school books, the usual thing." |
THECUTTING-EDGE.NET
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Ten Benson's sound is centered around the dual attack of Summers and Chris Teckkam's guitars, which often mirror
another, one badass trying to stare down the other. The duo's love of American fare like ZZ Top, AC/DC and The Melvins
is also shared with the throbbing rhythm section, obvious on throat-stompers like "Robot Tourist," "Tits," and the gnarly
"Black Snow." With the exception of the marvelously obtuse "Under Heavy Riffage," beats stay within 4/4 parameters,
incorporating unambiguous musicianship, keeping everything alarmingly simple. Benson Burner wasn't built to impress
snobby critics with musical finesse; it was designed to rock, and it does. Founding member and vocalist Teckkam has
enough charisma to lead two or three bands, and he's seemingly poured it all into Benson Burner. Apparently raised on
a diet of Ween, Thin Lizzy, Butthole Surfers and the aforementioned acts, Teckkam conjures up flavors of each of these
while letting the cement dry on his own cracked throat style. His hair-raising howls and whelps aren't tiresome, instead
Teckkham's peculiar mannerisms become affable, beckoning the listener to return once the Burner is extinguished. Those
who aren't so charmed with Teckkam's coarse approach should keep in mind that, in addition to guitar and vox, the liner
notes also give him credit for 'axe.'" |
WHATZUP.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"The U.K.'s answer to Andrew W.K. is here and their name is Ten Benson. Benson Burner is a roll down the windows and
crank-it, cruising album without the trendy beer commercials. In fact, even with the "rock revival" going on, there is nothing
trendy about this album. Their blend of metal, blues and swamp punk is the perfect formula for classic rock evolved
(or devolved). It's hard driving raunch rock blasted out of huge stacks, cranked up to the proverbial 11 and ready to pummel
the ears of anyone and everyone in its path.
Their sound recalls many comparisons. From ZZ Top to Monster Magnet and almost anything in between. Think of Electric-era
Cult with Al Jourgensen on vocals and your not far off. The highlight of the album, "Tits" has an undeniable hook that borrows
from AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and Sammy Hagar's "I Can't Drive 55". It's straightforward hard rock and roll without being rote.
Hailing mainly from England and Wales it's surprising to hear such a Southern (U.S.) Rock tone." |
INDIEWORKSHOP.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
""I have seen the future of rock and roll and it is . . ." goes the famous saying regarding Bruce Springsteen. Well, if the future
of rock is in the hands of Ten Benson, then the world will be a much better, louder, and rowdier place. And ugly as sin! Having much more
in common with AC/DC than current groups like Nashville Pussy, Ten Benson look like they should be landscaping scam artists more than a rock band
- cheap baseball caps, black sleeveless T-shirts, and jeans. But give them a guitar and a minimal amount of lyrics and something magical happens.
It's ZZ Top in bed with the Strokes -- infectious hooks with primal leanings. The result is a lovable "Rock" record. Trust me." |
POPMATTERS.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"A compilation of rerecorded songs from two previous U.K. albums, "Burner" is new wave bulked up on steroids and
AC/DC records. The filthy highlight "Tits" is also the catchiest thing on the disc, with reverb-drenched slang terms for
genitalia cheekily screamed above thrashing dance beats and arena metal posturing. The Fall-esque "Nobody's Wife" teeters
with a rickety keyboard line and murky wailing (along with the very Mark E. Smith-like conclusion that "At least
I'm nobody's wife"), while cuts like "Sweat Part 2" and "Under Heavy Riffage" will make any self-respecting rock fan
flash devil horns and bang their heads. One listen to the insightful lyrics of the product-skeptical "I Don't Buy It," and
suddenly the agenda of "Burner" seems less like a giant inside joke and more like sizzling-hot bombast with brains." |
BILLBOARD.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Busting at the crotch with raw rock and roll (so genuine you can practically smell the blood and vomit), Ten Benson
grind their way through twelve tracks on Benson Burner like a whiskey-fueled woodcutter. It's rough and messy, but it's
the most fun you'll ever have getting filthy." |
CRAZEWIRE.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Ten Benson's 'Benson Burner' is not for everyone, and it's not for everyone all the time, but like a cold one kept
frosty in the toilet tank when you're hot and thirsty, it sure does satisfy." |
MUSICTAP.NET
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Ten Benson are not for the weak of heart. They are not for the pregnant, the morally uptight or anyone who has
PreciousMoments.Com "bookmarked" on their web browser. If, however, you're ready to have a good time, if you want to party,
then Benson Burner are for you. All you need to do is cue up, say "Rock Cottage" (the perfect update to Gary Glitter's
"Rock & Roll Pt. 2," a song every dumb sports fan is familiar with) and pump your fist in the air. " |
WHATZUP.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"A lot of people toss off Ten Benson (not like that, perv) for being little more than one lame gag after another.
They're entirely correct. Goofy songs about boobies and drugs will always appeal to the lowest denominator such as myself,
though, so it's only natural that I ape on about these bare-bones tunes as if they were recorded by Bon Scott himself.
Given that a lot of these riffs consist of basic 12-bar blues mauling, it's no wonder I want to use AC/DC as a reference
point. After a few spins, you just go nuts givin' 'er with the riffage. " |
CHARTATTACK.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records) ****1/2
"Where AC/DC left off, and Nashville Pussy momentarily continued, is where you'll find this acclaimed British outfit.
Lauded by London's music press and Eric Clapton, the quintet appears so hideously dishevelled that they would be rejected
for a remake of Deliverance. Nonetheless, one can't judge an album on looks. And for the dozen tracks on this record,
it's quite apparent that these guys have what it takes. Beginning with Dark Forces, the opening notes recall the rhythm and
lead guitars of AC/DC's Malcolm and Angus Young. Lead singer Chris Teckkam has a raspy delivery that sounds like his wad
of tobacco is always in the way. It's three minutes of classic rock that moves into the stop-and-start pacing of One Way
Ticket, continuing the flow the opener so beautifully created." |
TORONTOSUN.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"The British Press have been raving about this bunch of English Rednecks playing crazed out music that can only bring
comparisons to AC/DC, ZZTop, Buthole Surfers, Black Sabath, and Queens of The Stone Age styled tunes taken to the extreme.
Take their wacked out lyrics, like on "Tits" where they sing, "sucking on too much teenage tits". This song is way too much
fun, Electric Six style. This is the kind of band that I would not want to be stuck in the room alone with. Yet with all of
their dark humor they have managed to captive audiences overseas for sometime now. Don't go looking too hard for Ten Benson
as they soon will find you." |
CRASHININ.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Yeah, the UK press has labeled their own TEN BENSON "deranged," "troubling," and "perverse," but hey - founding member Chris
Teckham (aka Uncle Benson) worked in an insane asylum for two years and confesses it was his primary source of musical
inspiration. On their second album, BENSON BURNER, TEN BENSON's unique brand of brazen, balls-out rock is both intriguing
and, as MOJO put it best, "utterly fucktastic." And indeed it is. " |
CANDYPUSHERS.COM
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"As for the best cuts, "Sweat Part 2", the short instrumental piece, is awesome and absurd all at once and "I Don't
Buy It" elicited the most head-bouncing from my clique. The shocker is the elegiac "Oh General" at the end of the disc.
Clocking in at a little more than six minutes, it seems to have a sober-minded opinion of the media fascination of war
and its coverage, how it turns soldiers into celebrities and the fundamental wrong-mindedness of conflict for television
ratings. Really! Just when you might have written off The Mighty Benson as Spinal Tap wannabes, they smack you with a
scathing conviction." |
MUSICTAP.NET
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"On the surface, Ten Benson seems like it's only about T&A and a little V (the "V" is for vocoder, you perv).
Benson Burner's straightforward classic rock is beguilingly simple, with song titles like "Tits" and "Sweat, Part 2"
going hand-in-hand with TB's badass reputation. For the most part - as on "Rock Cottage," with its repeating riff and
rumbling grunts - power vocals and rushing guitars dominate the album; however, lurking underneath the machismo are
some real lyrical gems.While honoring the female anatomy, "Tits" is actually about the secret life of a business
executive, and "Nobody's Wife," which revels in its own self-deprecation, is resolved only by the odd realization
that, "At least I'm nobody's wife." Meanwhile, "Oh General" is perhaps the most interesting track - closing out the
album with its slow march, it centers on perplexed sentiments regarding the media's coverage of war. And there are
many other surprising instances of reflection to be found, as well. Just don't let the music lull you into thinking
that the rock cottage architects at work here actually are one-dimensional." |
CMJ NEW MUSIC REPORT
|
'BENSON BURNER' (Jetset Records)
"Benson Burner, is quite engaging with its creepy, less-is-more determined middle-aged metal hick vocals uttered
moreso than sung, propelled by driving beats less drunk than pre bar fight." |
ELECTRICBASEMENT.COM
|
'Danger Of Deaf' - Career highlights from habitual lowlifes.
"Breathe deeply and you can almost smell the beer,vomit and mild terror.In and attempt to capture the chaos
of the Ten Benson live experience,the band have re-recorded their favourite songs in blood-and-spittle,
one-take style. Cue songs about tits, war and Christmas, sung with abandonment like a junkie in a stairwell.
They sound as fresh as a rotting cadaver, but you'd expect nothing less from a band who've consistantly tried
to confound. So 'Black Snow' and 'Robot Tourist' get reinjected with sleaze, and they lurch from fetid disco-punk
to gurning rockabilly to AC/DC with a severe personality disorder. Intriguing, perplexing and slightly scary.
This summer,Ten Benson undertake their first American Tour. God only knows what they'll make of them." |
NME 24/05/03
|
'Danger Of Deaf' Must Destroy
"Growl-toned Chris Tekkam once again leads quirk-rock individualists Ten Benson into a world of music populated
by no other. Through several twists, turns and band members they've now evolved into a menacing horde of thundering
rockers, but, luckily without losing their off-kilter twist. With the dual thrust of a twin rock-a-boogie guitar attack,
a spritzing of keyboards and the slyly darkhumoured lyrics this is a rock album in a chart of its own." |
THE SUNDAY MAIL
|
'Danger Of Deaf' Must Destroy
"As chaotic as a twister in a trailer park, Ten Benson punch AC/DC riffing onto white trash country to make a dirty
noir wattage. This is a collection of their most crowd-pleasing tunes,re-recorded in one take. It makes for wonderful,
pulsing rock,and reinterprets earlier gems into the muscular,noise frenzy of their live shows." |
THE INDEPENDANT
|
'Danger Of Deaf' - The gnarliest band in Britain refuse to go away.
"If bands were sex then the emo hordes would offer a gentle caress
and burst into tears at climax. The Red Hot Chili Peppers would be a highly dexterous jungle-f**k, and Ten Benson would be
a one-off knee-trembler down a town centre alley reeking of rat-piss and beer. Sleaze-drenched and sneering, 'Danger Of Deaf'
is basically a reworking of previous Benson moments recorded in one cheap take and is consequently closer to the overblown
chaos of the band's live shows than anything else they've put out. Subtleties (such as they were) are drowned in a wash of
tongue-in-cheek rock posturing, with every song sounding like a cross between Zodiac Mindwarp and AC/DC fronted by a mad old
tramp. And yes, that is a very good thing." |
KERRANG - PAUL TRAVERS
|
'Danger Of Deaf' Must Destroy
"They're a rum bunch Ten Benson. They sing, as far as it's possible to tell, about robots, global death, dodgy sex and
breasts. On 'Rock Cottage', Chris Teckkam growls: "Rock cottage! High wattage! Mmmmmm, hot sausage!" Those who have even a
passing interest in feminism should probably steer clear of the track 'Tits'. To give the band a little credit, though, these
lyrics are steeped in the tongue-in-cheek camp sexism of The Cramps and AC/DC that has always been a staple of rock music, rather
than the moronic misogyny-posing-as-humour of The Macc Lads. What else does Danger Of Deaf have to offer apart from idiotic lyrics,
though? Well, after picking their favourite tracks and recording them in one take, Ten Benson have sneaked out a live album of sorts.
And it sees them taking on the role of a stripped down, fuzzed-up Black Sabbath to The Darkness' AC/DC. Which is, of course, a
great thing." |
BANG - JOHN DORAN
|
'Danger Of Deaf' - Veteran disgustarinos re-record their greatest tits. Sorry, hits.
"Ten Benson treat
rock 'n' roll like it's something nasty they found in the bottom of a skip, a grimy, mysteriously
stained artefact that they might, with a bit of luck, be able to trade for cash, sex or illicit fun.
Here, 11 enduring tracks from their illustrious career have been re-recorded, all the better to sound
like men who have spent a feral childhood in ZZ Top's beards. The seedy likes of Tits, Sweat Pt 1 & 2
and the child-frightening Christmas song Black Snow are as greasy as you'd expect from stubbled Englishmen
pretending to be sweating in a Texas fry shack, and while songs like Rock Cottage ("Mmmm, high wattage/Mmmm,
hot sausage") should clearly be taken with a pinch of salt, not to mention disinfectant, their filthy
allure is undeniable." |
MOJO - Victoria Segal
|
'Danger Of Deaf' Must Destroy
"Growl-toned Chris Teckkam once again leads quirk-rock individualists Ten Benson into a world of
music populated by no other. Through several twists, turns and band members they've now evolved
into a menacing horde of thundering rockers, but luckily without losing their off-kilter twist.
With the dual thrust of a twin rock-a-boogie guitar attack, a spritzing of keyboards and the slyly
dark-humoured lyrics this is a rock album in a chart of its own." |
Mail on Sunday
|
'Satan Kidney Pie' Art Rocker
"We deal with things no one else wants to go near," says Ten Benson
leader CHris Teckkam, "I mean, I wrote Satan Kidney Pie (Artrocker) after reading
Dennis Wheatley - we wore black string vests as a nod to him." Goodness knows what
the writer of such devilish pot-boliers as Shafts Of Fear would have made of Ten
Benson; adopting the look of Deep South trailer dwellers (long before that look hit
trendy Hoxton), theirs is a funny/scary sound of hard, heavy riffing given extra
zing by country and electronics. Formed in east London in 1997, they're onto a third
album, Danger Of Deaf (Must Destroy) which presents big-bottom re-recordings of
their nearly-hits. They threaten more symphonic stadium sounds on their next album,
with Bitch City already in the can. |
MOJO - Ian Harrison
|
'Satan Kidney Pie' Art Rocker
"Pitch-black, decidedly demonic, utterly fucktastic, rawk beast - the spawn of AC/DC, ZZ Top and Melvins
ground out in taut, untouchably cool, monster riffs with awesome muscle-power and much humour. 'Dark Forces'
opens and does exactly what it says on the tin - if you're not immediately gagging to play it three times
over at max volume, you're clearly dead. Rock as it was meant to be (steam)rolled." |
TIME OUT June 5-12 2002
|
| "Second album from the UK's finest sarcastic mock-rockers EVERYTHING ABOUT Ten Benson sounds ironic.
From the pseudo-occult imagery employed throughout to the way opening track 'Dark Forces' sounds like Steve
Albini's Big Black playing AC/DC covers with a wry, knowing smile rather than the full-on, crotch-grabbing
assault of old, Ten Benson obviously take a perverse delight in turning rock tradition on its head.
Mixing a swamp-blues swagger with the dry, robotic grind of Kraftwerk and the demented punk-psychedelia
of the Butthole Surfers,'Satan Kidney Pie' finds Ten Benson perfecting a sound that they can truly call
their own. They are, without doubt, one of the UK's more original rock bands. Grab yourself a slice of their
silly satanic pie, pronto!" |
KERRANG
|
|
"Satan Kidney Pie is a bad-ass QOTSA record as interpreted by an AC/DC cover act fronted by a
dying cowboy. Monolithic guitar riffs do battle with Chris Teckkam's parched roar as the mighty Benson do
their nihilistic tango over Black Sabbath's grave. No-one else is doing this sort of music - no-one else
would want to - but Ten Benson remain our premier death-rattle rock caberet act. Brilliant and extremely stupid." |
NME June 15 2002
|
|
Satan Kidney Pie "From the stop-start guitar intro of opener Dark Forces it's clear that
Chris Teckkam's Ten Benson remain as brazen as on 2000's Hiss. Subtlety, scruples and musical finesse
are all bent to their iron rock will. This approach makes the band ideal figureheads for a stylised
greaser rock revival, mixing AC/DC with the kind of conceptualised take on rock heritage employed by
Earl Brutus. The heads-down redneck racket is loaded with knowingly trashy lyrics. The dumb metal
assault is leavened by the hillbilly-ish Nobody's Wife with its intricate synth-banjo plucking.
Riotously enjoyable." |
Q MAGAZINE July 2002
|
| "London rockers Ten Benson are an unusual proposition ''Dark Forces' opens this a album (which
has one of the best titles I've seen in ages), and thunderously signals the sound of a band intent on
classic heavy rock a la AC/DC. The next track 'One Way Ticket' does nothing to change that fact, but
what does emerge is a lyrical kinship with the black humour of Killdrozer or Ween. This becomes more
evident with the grinding country bumpkin of a song 'Nobody's Wife' or on 'Sweat Pt.3', with which anyone
familiar with Ween's 'The Pod' will feel immediately at home. They are not a band to discover after
nightfall, because something evil is lurking in their minds. Clearly they are having fun, but at whose
expense? There is an inherent challenge in every song. Face value - you can take it or leave it.
Dig a bit deeper and then it's all in your mind. If you love your pies, then have a taste." |
ROCK SOUND July 2002
|
|
"Almost from nowhere Ten Benson thunder into earshot with a tremendously weighty album. These
unsung riff-rockers twist through realms of metal with quirkiness set at eleven. Thrashing guitars
and spookily rustic vocals, insecurity and distant yet forceful lyrics. 'Come Home To Me' is the
sound of pure evil in its most eerie form, disturbing-nice. Lazy comparison: AC/DC and Thin Lizy.
If these are your gods you'll be far from disappointed." |
FLUX July 2002
|
|
Satan Kidney Pie "Now this is what we're talking about. Dirty, bluesy, rock back-to-basics
Ten Benson (surely it should be Ten Marlboro Light?) strip it so far back they make Papa Roach look like
Genesis. Think the bastard offspring of Dr Feelgood and AC/DC and you won't be far off. And if that
wasn't perfect enough, the third track is called Tits - and you can't say fairer than that." |
DAILY EXPRESS Fri June 14 2002
|
|
Satan Kidney Pie "With this real corker of a set, Chris Teckkam's decidedly-odd,
East London-based quartet (who possess one of the greatest rock 'n' roll band names since Bad Dress Sense)
have belatedly followed-up their debut album of 2000, Hiss. In the current (Hives and White Stripes-accepting)
musical climate, the 'Benson - who look like out-of-work garage attendants and sound akin to an amalgamation
of prime AC/DC and The Glitter Band plus some deranged backwoods preacher - should be drawing fans like flies.
The tracks contained on this stoopidly-titled album's first double A-side single, One Way Ticket b/w The
Loozin' Line, are both featured here. Amazingly, they're only two of the nine good reasons included on this
waxing as to why you should love the 'Benson without reserve. Basically, Ten Benson are a different breed of band
from the indie drones which are clogging up the cistern of the UK's music scene and they're here to grab that
chain and give it a ruddy good flush." |
YAHOO! MUSIC July 2002
|
| "A sneering, nasty, booze addled lash of gritty rifforama, Ten Benson are as
ugly as a bevy of Lemmy-faced hags pole dancing for a lunchtime crowd
of deformed dwarves... " |
SLEAZENATION June 2002
|
| "Following the release of McLusky's superb album a few weeks ago, it's good to see the lunatic fringe
of British Rock get another boost with this addictive slab of wierdness: dirty guitars sounding like AC/DC played
through the cheapest radio, voices of a Devo bent and a Johnny Cash swagger all meld together intriguingly well." |
'One Way Ticket' Single of the Week - Independent 20-26th April
|
| "And so, 15 months after The Great Strokes Explosion, a wire finally reaches the deserted gas station
in Sisterfuck, Arizona where Ten Benson always looked like they lived: "raw-arsed-rock'n'roll back! Stop. Return
immediately with your hoariest AC/DC riffs. Stop. No novelty twaddle about claws this time. Stop." Hence the
timely arrival of 'One Way Ticket', astutely sounding like the White Stripes trying to eat a hitch-hiker's thigh
on a rollercoaster. Or a listenable Moldy Peaches. (MB)" |
NME single review of 'One Way Ticket' - 27th April
|
| "They are a thunderous, sprawling, joyous, genius, near mess of heavy rock, country, swamp blues and punk,
a loose and unlikely amalgam of AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Johnny Cash, The Cramps and The Fall bound together with the
gaffa of wry humour, self-awareness and the determination to have a bloody great time...Forthcoming single
'Black Snow' is a rifftastic, rough-arsed riot of chugging, punch-drunk guitars." |
Time Out
|
| "Ten Benson definitely seem like the embodiment of the unhinged outsider-men with laundry issues.
Men with blocked drains. Men who, for no apparent reason, suddenly decide to build themselves a patio in the
middle of the night." |
NME
|
| "Ten Benson are a strange commodity. Everyone on the session adores them, but it's rather like getting
a joke no one else does. No matter how we try and explain it, many people simply stare blankly at their homemade
no-fi sounds. And the more people look confused, the more we love them." |
BBC Online - Radio 1 - Alternative Review of 1999
|
| I Don't Buy It - "A filthy, half-eaten pop song that seems to have been gnawed by urban foxes before
10B pulled it out of the rubbish, gave it a wipe down and decided it would still work fine." |
Victoria Segal/NME
|
| "So perfectly shit it's shittily perfect in a shit/perfection interface scenario." |
Melody Maker
|
| Hiss - "Opener 'Robot Tourist' sets the tone, with gasoline-guzzling Sabbath riffs and Glitter
Band drums binding up the vocoder'd tale of an alien outsider." |
Select
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| "An obscene feast of dirty bastard riffage. Filth, squalor, bad, bad men:
pretty much an irresistible package" |
Mojo
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| "Now we're playing Ten Benson mixed with Boyzone people seem to go for it." |
Marc "Lard" Riley - BBC Radio 1 (NME Jan 99)
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