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Brendan Benson: "A Whole Lot Better" (Live on Letterman) (Video)

8:28 a.m. · August 24, 2009 · by Nick Neyland

Brendan Benson has a new album of genial power pop, titled My Old, Familiar Friend, released this week. Benson showed up on David Letterman’s talk show to promote the record on Friday (Aug. 21), which marked his first major appearance since his turn alongside Jack White in the Raconteurs.

“A Whole Lot Better” demonstrates the singer’s clear affinity for power pop greats such as the Cars and the Knack. The song is based around a simple lyric, some neat vintage organ sounds and fuzzy guitar passages. There’s nothing new to see here—it’s a derivative sound that has been attempted innumerable times. But at least Letterman is smitten. “That’s the real deal,” he says at the close of the song.