BENNY TROKAN
DO YOU STILL THINK OF ME?
WICK RECORDS
New York native and sought after collaborator for bands like Spoon, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and Lee Fields and the Expressions, among many others, Benny Trokan has recorded his first solo project, Do You Still Think Of Me?, an ultra-cool collection of spaghetti soul rock that seems lifted from another era entirely. While not all twelve songs achieve the same heights as the best ones, the album is still an auspicious start to a solo career.
Early singles βItβs Timeβ, βNowhere To Be Foundβ, and βDo You Still Think of Me?β revealed a sultry, unique spaghetti western rock sound led by Trokanβs perfectly designed voice and super chill delivery, but the full album doesnβt always keep to that premise. Opening track βFeverβ is an upbeat jangler with easy lyrics and a rolling sound that leads into βGet It In The End,β another early release with super chill, psychedelic rock vibes that channel the grooviest, sun-in-your-eyes rock. Itβs when you get to βWalking Backβ a few tracks later that Trokan reveals a more successful soundβless garage-oriented, more soulful crooning, more transporting and evocative. βTurn Back You Foolβ two tracks later follows in the same spirit, along with βYou Donβt Get Me Downβ, βSorrowβ, and closer βDo You Still Think of Me?β which all seem to succeed by tapping more into the spaghetti soul side of things and less into the ice cream shop psychedelia of βFeverβ, βLong Shadowsβ, and βSave a Place for Meβ which offer a less distinctive and dramatic sound.
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SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BENNY TROKAN – DO YOU STILL THINK OF ME?
Dan Kennard