BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

BenSem describe themselves as Indie Pop Rockers but in truth they play melodic AOR. They’d call it timeless – I’d called it dated. They hail from Pontypridd, Wales but sound generically transatlantic. It is competently played and produced but is not as good as they think. Singer and songwriter Sem is described on their website as an “emotional wordsmith” but as song titles ‘Why I Cry’ and ‘Science Project’ suggest, he delivers little more than self-pitying sixth-form laments.

Lead song ‘Sunshine’ is an upbeat, up-tempo rocker with the would-be anthemic chorus of “Got sunshine in my hair, feeling so damn low, and I'm all alone”. ‘Why I Cry’ is a grand emotional ballad complete with string section. But really these songs are not truly emotional or deep.

I can imagine them playing under the break-up-but-soon-to-re-united scene in a glossy rom-com – and BenSem’s songs are as facile and paper-thin and formulaic as their celluloid equivalent. BenSem will appeal to the crowd who find Counting Crows a little too progressive; and if you like first track you’ll like the rest. I didn't like the first track. At all.

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

Well, having read such a bad review I had to give this band a listen for myself just to see what all the moaning was about. I have to say, I really liked what I heard. It is different to all of the indie stuff in the UK charts at the moment, and the singer has an amazing voice. I also had a look for them on MySpace, did you know they have over 40,000 fans on there? And they have street teams all over the place including Japan.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I respect yours, but I'm not sure their fans (of which I am now one) would agree!

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

lol, if the above poster is NOT a member of the band I will attempt to eat my own face.

and any group who describe themselves as "The Goo Goo Dolls, meet John Mayer, meet the Fray, meet Counting Crows in a big jam session" are just asking for a new arsehole.

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

Blatantly in the band or are a close friend of the band. Why would you try and come off like you just found them through Altsounds and love them?

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

pahahaha i know, i thought EXACTLY the same thing.


it's called damage control i believe!

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

'Big in Japan' is part of a noble tradition. Surely they will be releasing a "Live at the Budokan" set shortly??

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

Well perhaps you should start munching then mate. I don't know any of the band and hadn't heard of them until I read this review! I use this website a lot to read about music and have found a lot of new stuff this way. Usually I just read and don't get involved but I disagreed with this one so much that I signed up so I could comment back!!

I think that just because you don't like something doesn't mean that everyone else will agree!

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

Doesn't mean anything mate, you ever heard of a cheeky bit of sofware called "FriendblasterPro" adds loads of friends by a few clicks. I have over 1500 friends and probably 2% have actually listened to my tunes

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

And just because you do like something doesn't mean that everyone else will agree.

Re: BenSem – Sunshine [EP]
 

I agree - I don't expect everyone to like it just because I do. But I do feel that I should be able to express my opinion, and let others make up their own minds.