Ben Rector is somewhat of a singer-songwriter darling, rising to prominence in 2015 off the back of his Billboard-charting single “Brand New” which put him firmly on the map in the mainstream. A handful of world tours and smash-hits later, Rector got married and had three kids. And while he never was an artist who rode the edge or delved into the darker part of life, his 2022 album The Joy of Music is an album that exudes joy in nearly every single note with a tint of nostalgia for good measure.
The Joy of Music is as feel-good as they come, an album wonderfully crafted for 30-something year old parents to listen to with their children. As a father of a three-year old daughter the track “Daughter” hits me on a different level. Listeners will go nuts for the Snoop Dogg and Kenny G features, but for my money “Cliches” with Dawes frontman (and notorious dad) Taylor Goldsmith is where it’s at.
A last note– make sure to follow the man on Instagram delving out life advice and wisdom. Well worth a follow (he’s right about chicken breast and chicken thighs btw).
Standout Songs: “Steady Love”, “Sunday”, “Daughter”, “Cliches”
