Dutch singer/songwriter
Benny Sings (known to his family as Tim Berkestijn) has been releasing really solid indie-pop-meets-neo-soul records since 2003, and
The Best of Benny Sings collects songs from his whole career, including two songs from a yet-to-be-released album. The four albums he had released previously all fit the general mold of happily bouncy pop tunes with elements of neo-soul, jazz, soft rock, indie pop, and smooth electronic pop running through them, sometimes all at once. This collection grabs three songs each from his first three albums (2003’s
Champagne People, 2005’s
I Love You, and 2008’s
Benny at Home), two from his 2010 album
Art -- which subtracted much of the jazz and neo-soul from his sound and added a sleek French pop sheen -- and an excellent new single, “Can You Believe It’s Magic. ” Also included are two songs from Berkestijn’s other band,
We’ll Make It Right, and two songs from his forthcoming fifth album, which show him dipping deeper into soft rock sounds. It makes for a nice overview of
Benny Sings' work to date, giving a clear picture of his sound and unique pop vision. ~ Tim Sendra