While everything that Detroit songman Brendan Benson writes may turn to gold, the notion is not extended to all that he touches. As the recorder and producer of the latest EP by Cincinnati’s The Greenhornes, he’s unable to unleash the magic. Then again, he didn’t have much to work with. Another passe band blatantly trying to emulate The Byrds, the midwestern quasi-garage rock revivalists are boring, plain and simple. Known for collaborating with the likes of Jack White, Karen O, Kim Deal and even Loretta Lynn, perhaps the trio should spend less time trying to make others sound good and focus on its own material.
—Jon Bruhm
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.