Don’t let Lost Souls Like Us trick you into thinking you’re about to listen to a deep, revelation-filled composition. The title of the album is the only really arresting thing about it.
Davis’s music is infused with toxic simplicity, his poison of choice being wistful songs that reflect on personal faults, failed relationships and good times past. The combinations of slide guitar and catchy hooks land Davis somewhere between mainstream country and pop, a combination that’s accessible to just about everyone but nothing incredibly innovative.
Unfortunately, Davis has sacrificed originality for the sake of this accessibility. His love troubles are nothing you haven’t heard before, and all the songs seem to ride on big guitar chords and drums, with little room for intricacy or surprise.
Music Review
Benjy Davis Project
Lost Souls Like Us
Dive verdict: 2.5 of 5 stars
There is an appealing, laid-back attitude to the album, making it a breezy affair that goes by quickly, but its freewheeling mood doesn’t compensate for its mediocrity.
However, there are sparks of life that pop up just in time to keep you from totally spacing out. “Bite My Tongue,” a bouncy piano song about life’s frustrations, has Davis declaring he’s an “insinuating, instigating son of a bitch” that might be found “someday lying facedown in a ditch.” “Iron Chair” is an unexpected rocker contrasting dark lyrics about a troubled girl with an upbeat tempo.
But ultimately, Lost Souls Like Us is not the kind of album that sticks with you for long. It’ll get thumbs up from people who like a lighter form of country and appreciate the “devil-may-care” shtick, but people looking to spend some quality time with a multifaceted record should search elsewhere.
