Brendan Benson

Michigan native Brendan Benson's sugar-sweet music is a cross between glittery glam rock and endearingly nerdy indie pop. The singer worked alongside fellow power popster Jason Faulkner, who co-wrote many songs on Benson's 1996 debut, One Mississippi. Benson's label, Virgin, sent the finished product back for a "redo" and hired Ethan Johns to produce the next sessions. The album received rave reviews but didn't sell well, and Benson asked to be released from his contract -- which took several years to resolve. Once his label woes were behind him, Benson released 2002's Lapalco on indie label StarTime, to great success. In fact, it created a feeding frenzy among labels, and once again he found himself on a major. The Alternative to Love saw the light of day in 2005, which is right about the time Benson started collaborating with fellow Michigander Jack Black of The White Stripes. The two, along with Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, became The Raconteurs and released Broken Boy Soldiers in 2006 and Consolers of the Lonely in 2008. Benson reappeared (solo) in 2009 with My Old, Familiar Friend.