Benjamin Bear is a prolific artist whose musical presence has been making the internet that little bit more interesting for a number of years now. Although best known for his talent for rap, he has consistently demonstrated that he has both the inclination and the skills to express himself through a variety of different vocal styles. This versatility is well represented on Tuesday, his latest release. Predominantly a rap album, Benjamin Bear balances more traditional hip-hop sounds with occasional emotionally sung choruses (from B Bear himself on Dead Planet, and with a strong guest appearance from Marc with a C on the intensely personal Broken Windows), and a rock-infused attitude on Here, You Can Have This Back (featuring Betty Rebel and Schaffer the Darklord). The coherence of such contrasting tracks, and the differing styles of their collaborators, are a testament to the broad appeal of this album.
I'm sure it's clear by now that this is a collaboration-heavy album; eight of Tuesday's twelve tracks feature guest vocalists. This adds to the diversity of sounds provided, keeping the listening experience fresh throughout, and provides some of my favourite parts of the album. The Wordburglar's fun flow is well delivered on the appropriately titled Special Delivery, whilst YTCracker's love of all things scientific provides a powerful catalyst in the interaction between his and Bear's respective styles in Everyday Science You Can Do At Home. If there is a weakness to this album, it is that due to the variety on offer, you may not find every track to your liking. By the same token, however, most listeners will find something to their satisfaction.
Lyrically, Benjamin Bear doesn't disappoint. The more personal narratives presented are done so sincerely, and create an atmosphere which seemingly brings the listener closer than many artists can manage. Those lyrics that deal with less serious concerns are delivered with obvious thought and maintain a decent level of complexity without ever becoming a chore to follow. B Bear knows his audience, and provides his take on one of the hottest and most enduring topics in this community in About This Whole Nerd Music Thing. This combination of self-awareness and consideration of the listener is refreshing, and represents a significant part of this album's appeal.
Featuring Benjamin Bear at his best, Tuesday is indicative of years of persistence paying off, and it is well worth a listen. You can download the album for free from benjaminbear.net, and at that price I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
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