Album Review: Alec Benjamin – 'These Two Windows'

Ed Sheeran who? pop wunderkind and resident sad boi Alec Benjamin releases his highly anticipated sophomore album ‘These Two Windows’ and proves beyond doubt that there is strength and courage in vulnerability.

Similar to his debut LP/mixtape ‘Narrated For You’, ‘These Two Windows’ is deeply personal, tackling everything from depression over heartbreak to domestic violence. Spanning 10 amazingly introspective tracks, this album is a rollercoaster of emotion. Sonically, it goes one step further, diving deeper into infectious pop spheres and soft grooves, but it never loses the Alec Benjamin of it all. His unmatched skill of creating weightlessly floating melodies, irresistibly smooth and so god damn beautiful they make you want to cry in awe. 

Aside from a number of already released singles, ‘These Two Windows’ packs a bunch of new material like the stunning, beat-driven ‘Match In The Rain’, an ode to parenting ‘Just Like You’ and brilliantly clever ‘I’m Not A Cynic’ that, wrapped in dark rhythms, gives permission to have a bad day  - “I swear that I’m not a cynic, my glass just has no water in it today.” 

If you’re looking for gentle, intimate singalong pop, look no further. As Alec says of the album: “Instead of telling stories, I took a look at myself. I thought about how I feel inside of my head. The songs are more on-the-nose. You’ll know what I’m thinking [...] I’m still trying to figure out who I am, but this is what I’ve learned along the way.“ 

Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven

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