{"id":12943,"date":"2012-10-26T07:30:41","date_gmt":"2012-10-25T20:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/?p=12943"},"modified":"2012-10-24T22:32:48","modified_gmt":"2012-10-24T11:32:48","slug":"bento-diamond-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maytherockbewithyou.com\/mtrbwy\/2012\/10\/bento-diamond-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Bento – Diamond Days"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In Summary: \u201cI\u2019ve already played \u2018Diamond Days\u2019 through a number of times and it\u2019s an album that I will happily continue to listen to\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always a daunting task for any member of a band to step out and go solo, especially when taking the vocal lead, but even more so when you\u2019re the co-founder and drummer in one of Australia\u2019s biggest bands, that being Silverchair, oh and that\u2019s the only time I\u2019ll mention that by the way\u2026 This is Ben Gillies\u2019 new baby Bento and this is the debut album \u2018Diamond Days\u2019, I\u2019m really enjoying this album by the way and it\u2019s taken a few listens for me to actually remember I had to review it, I was taken in, swept away and forgot to write about it, so I\u2019ve snapped myself out of that and finally here to tell you about it\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2018Diamond Days\u2019 is not only the name of the album but also its title track which opens the record and from the first second of the infectious furious keyboard notes you just get the feeling this is going to be different, be good and be something you\u2019re not expecting, oh and Ben can sing.\u00a0 The song itself is one catchy little ditty, in fact I\u2019m now up to day 7 of having it stuck in my head, it\u2019s close to surpassing the record held by Rick Astley in 1987 of 12 days but I\u2019m hoping Rick will be dethroned soon as this song is something damn good. I\u2019m impressed, let\u2019s just say that and kudos Ben for the first single choice. \u2018Words of Love\u2019 asks us to carry on with its soothing groove and then we jump straight in to another catchy one \u2018West Side Story\u2019 in an almost 80\u2019s style new romantic track, the simple chorus will have you hooked, and any song with hand claps wins in my books.<\/p>\n

I love the direction this album takes, it is just enjoyable to listen to, the songs are well crafted and performed, as Ben did pretty much all of \u2018Diamond Days\u2019 himself, with some help from a few musical mates in Thomas Rawle (Papa vs Pretty), Scott Alpin (Music director on The Voice) and Dave Symes (Missy Higgins\u2019 music director) who have helped shape the album in to what it is. \u2018Glue\u2019 has an early 90\u2019s STP \/ Pearl Jam feel to it at times, then \u2018Miss My Mind\u2019 rocks it up a little and get psychedelic at times with an outro that is more out there than Pluto, but it\u2019s \u2018Obsession\u2019 that is another stand out on \u2018Diamond Days\u2019 for me, I just love the way this song works, it draws you in and keeps you there. Continuing on with \u2018How Many Times\u2019 and \u2018Wheels Turn\u2019 that take on a 70\u2019s almost disco type vibe at times, well\u2026 not disco, but just that 70\u2019s groove, and I think groove is the perfect word to describe this album, it has one, actually lots of it. \u2018Living Strong\u2019 finds shades of rock and punk, maybe even some Sex Pistols in there for some fun, and is the most \u2018rock\u2019 track on the album complete with crunching guitars, but I say this until \u2018Poison Ivy\u2019 kicks in with a riff and this is the closest I feel Ben has come to work from his other band, it\u2019s a great track and production wise the subtle backing vocals really make it in the chorus.<\/p>\n

With only a couple of tracks to go, \u2018April Fool\u2019 keeps the tempo up but the album closes out with \u2018Naked Next To Me (After Dinner Mint)\u2019 which is a trippy little piece at just over two and a half minutes and is almost like a come down, it\u2019s kinda odd, but kinda works.\u00a0 It could\u2019ve only gone at the end of the album as it wouldn\u2019t have worked at all in the midst of the stronger tracks.<\/p>\n

In closing, for a first effort solo album, Ben Gillies you\u2019ve done well, as I said I\u2019ve already played \u2018Diamond Days\u2019 through a number of times and it\u2019s an album that I will happily continue to listen to, I really look forward to seeing what\u2019s next for Bento\u2026<\/p>\n

Read our interview with Ben Gillies here…<\/a><\/p>\n

Essential Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n

From:<\/strong> Australia<\/p>\n

For fans of:<\/strong> Rock & Roll<\/p>\n

Release date:<\/strong> 26 October 2012<\/p>\n

Record label:<\/strong> Independent<\/p>\n

Producer: <\/strong>Ben Gillies & Eric J Dubowsky<\/p>\n

Website:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.wearebento.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Track Listing:<\/strong>
\n1. Diamond Days
\n2. Words of Love
\n3. West Side Story
\n4. Glue
\n5. Miss My Mind
\n6. Obsession
\n7. How many Times
\n8. Wheels Turn
\n9. Living Strong
\n10. Poison Ivy
\n11. April Fool
\n12. Naked Next to Me (After Dinner Mint)<\/p>\n\n

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