The Benjamins

Park City in East Rutherford, longtime patron of bands throughout North Jersey and the tri-state area, threw in the towel in March.

It was another ominous cloud over an already gloomy music scene. "When I first came in, the market was still fresh, still full of tons of talented bands," said Park City owner Lou Grasso, who opened the club 11 years ago. "If you were booking a nightclub and you needed 15 bands, you could choose from 20 to 30. Now you need 10, and you have five."


Not the words that aspiring bands -- or music lovers -- want to hear.

The Benjamins are one of the select few acts that packed the club. Like most of the bands that played there, they are a cover band, performing the hot tunes of the day. Unlike most bands, cover or original, this North Jersey band can earn between $2,500 to $6,000 for a performance -- a king's ransom in an industry where some bands hope to make $400 a night.

Last month, the Benjamins did something that seems utterly quixotic in the midst of a depressed music scene, launching an original music career with an album, "Chronicles of the Garden State." Apparently, staying true to their Jersey roots paid off. The album, distributed by Koch International, has made it to Virgin Music, Best Buy, iTunes and Amazon.com.

The strategy was calculated: The band has been sneaking original songs into its covers set lists. "[Cover shows are] our radio, our vehicle to push our music," said Benjamins guitarist Anthony Picone of East Rutherford.

"Maybe 50 percent [of the crowd] won't listen [to our originals]," said vocalist Joe DeGenarro of Garfield. "But if you have 300 people, and 25 percent of them listen to what you're doing, you're gaining ground."

There's no shame in playing covers, said Grasso, who has seen many bands come and go. "My best advice to original bands is to be a cover/original band," he said. "You can build a crowd and make money, and that will keep [the] band together for a longer time. ... It's an easier way to get exposure, and in the long run you take that money you make into making a CD or promoting your original music."

Playing covers also is a way to hone skills. "Nothing gets a band tighter than playing live," said Benjamins drummer Jeremy Luke of Clifton. "You could practice until you're blue in the face, but live is where it's happening."

Even so, it can be a prickly business introducing your originals to a cover-hungry crowd. "It's kind of sobering when you first start playing originals and 80 percent of the people just stare," said Ben DeGenarro, bassist and brother of Joe DeGenarro. "Then half of them turn away and get a beer."

At that point, you have to trust "what you feel," said Joe DeGenarro. "The more you stick to your guns, the more you show people that you're not going to detour from your plan. They either buy into it or they don't."

But if the Benjamins never doubted themselves, they can't help doubting the live music scene. There has been a downswing, agreed Benjamins agent Steve Tarkanish, president of the agency Stars Productions and active in the North Jersey music scene since the 1960s. Back then, Tarkanish was a drummer in a local band.

"I was able to play at over 60 venues, all within a half-hour distance of each other in Bergen County," said Tarkanish. Now there are only a few, like Tommy Fox's in Bergenfield and the Junkyard in Rochelle Park. Until recently, Park City was a mainstay for cover-band music. North Jersey bands trying to make a living wage now have to either take day jobs or travel across the country, sometimes traveling 600 miles between gigs.

"If I had faced the current situation, I would probably not have gone into the business," Tarkanish said.

North Jersey seems to have passed the torch of hot live music to Long Island, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

"Connecticut now is probably what Jersey was 15 years ago," said Jim Garcia of the Nerds, a New Jersey cover band still playing after 22 years in business. "There's a real scene. ... There're a lot of clubs in New Jersey now that are trying to be New York. Why try to be New York? New Jersey is a great state of mind, too."

New Jersey's live-music heyday was in the '70s, when the drinking age was lowered to 18. "New Jersey just exploded with cover bands," said Tarkanish. The scene shrank noticeably in the '80s, when the drinking age went back to 21, but had another minor growth spurt in the '90s, when garage bands became popular.

The Benjamins caught the tail end of the '90s cover scene.

"We were probably the last band to be able to just do this for a living," said Luke.

Even so, these Jersey boys may have to leave home to make their fortune. "People out of state are more receptive," said Joe DeGenarro, alluding to a jaded listening public in the vicinity of New York. So, while their album release party was at Soundgarden in Lodi, the Benjamins have had more luck selling their CD outside of New Jersey.

But that doesn't mean they've given up. "We know there's definitely been a change in the scene since we as a band have been doing different things," said Picone. "A few other cover bands are starting to follow suit. We've even had some out-of-state original bands open for us at our cover shows, bringing original music back. Hopefully it will pick the scene up."

E-mail: shih@northjersey.com - Bergen Record (NJ)

The staff at Let's Rock America can NEVER be accused of having a lackadaisical attitude when it comes to bringing musicians and music lovers together on our website. After all, we do this for one reason and ONE REASON ONLY...to meet chicks! But in the process, we get SO MUCH MORE! Being musicians and music lovers ourselves, we get to meet some very cool bands, hear some very cool tunes and network with some very cool folks in the independent music scene! If you are an independent musician, stick with us.we won't disappoint you. You will learn a thing or two from some successful indie artists. If you are an indie music lover, stick around - you ain't seen or heard NOTHIN' yet! Lately, it's come to our attention that we are being used. But don't let that discourage you. We actually enjoy being used!

Post free music classifieds, speak your mind on our blogs, listen to some cool tunes, read some great interview spotlights, find out about some great bands OR, just spam the shit out of our webmaster's email. Hell, he doesn't care (it actually makes him feel popular). His best friend emails Viagra ads to him daily and you know how HARD it is to keep a good man down! After a brief lackadaisical and well-deserved sabbatical, Let's Rock America is back in full force to bring you none other than The Benjamins. Formed in 1999 by Garfield New Jersey High School classmates Jeremy Luke (Drums), Ben DeGenarro (Bass) and Joe DeGenarro (Lead Vocals/Rhythm Guitar), this Northern New Jersey based rock band started out doing rock covers, eventually graduated to original material and are currently one of the most popular rock bands on the tremendous Jersey Shore music scene.

The Benjamins' attitude at the start was to make a living from music. In 2003, The Benjamins found a second guitar player and the fourth piece of the puzzle in Anthony "Ant" Picone. In one Month, with their collective noses to the grindstone and the will to succeed, The Benjamins wrote, recorded and produced their very first original CD "Go" and released it in 2004. As an attribute to the band's following, the self -produced and homespun "Go" has sold upwards of 10,000 copies.

Although The Benjamins have played consistently in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Massachusettes, the New Jersey Shore music scene is one of the hottest commodities going, and it seems that The Benjamins are masters of their domain. The band brings their stylized version of Arena Rock to almost every venue up and down New Jersey that are lucky enough to headline them.

Due to the success of "Go", the band is currently in it's final stages of completing it's much awaited "Chronicles of The Garden State" CD with producer Tariq Solangi of Prime Time Studios of Yonkers N.Y. and mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. The CD will be released by partners Roger Probert and Mike Pascuzzi's new label Core Records and distributed by Koch International.

The Benjamins' popularity has gotten them airplay on WPLJ's Scott and Todd show with The Goo Goo Dolls and a live Television performance on Fox. They have opened for Third Eye Blind at the Starland Ballroom in Sayerville New Jersey, have played at a Meadowlands Nets Game and The Meadowlands Raceway. Radio airplay includes WDHA in New Jersey, I-95 in Danbury Connecticut and a shit load of college stations! Listen for some new tunes from The Benjamins this summer on 106.3 and Rat Radio in New Jersey. And, check this out.two NEW Benjamins tunes stream right here on Let's Rock America! (links at top of this article)

BTW- Lackadaisical is a real word. My momma told me so!

Without further adieux, the exclusive Lets Rock America interview with
none other than THE BENJAMINS!

Let's Rock America: The Benjamins have been playing together for about seven years now with great success. What do each of you attribute this "staying power" to? Tell us a little about the chemistry that holds you all together.


Anthony: It's pretty simple, we all share a common goals for success and are on the same page all the time. Second, not a day goes by when the four of us are not doing some kind of work to make things better. The other part is a mutual understanding that the end results of the bands accomplishments are more important than our individual ego. Sounds simple enough but believe it or not, most bands don't reach their full potential because they can't comprehend the basics.

Joe: We keep reinventing ourselves always on top of what s new, and even if there is nothing that great out there, we find a way to create a
new scene. Now the originals have become the new scene...

Jeremy: The staying power of The Benjamins I would say is attributed to our bonds not only as musicians but as long time friends. I think we
all share a common philosophy on where we want the band to go as well.

LRA: It's not easy making a living from only playing music. I want to know if anyone is "moonlighting" with a regular job or are you just
doing what you do and and making it happen?

Ant: If you want to make a living playing music, there comes a time when you have to cross over and "Live the Life." There's no other way
to do it.

Joe: you can never be part time in anything you do if you want to succeed. Music is the only thing for all of us. That's also a reason
why we continue to move ahead.

Jeremy: No, we are all full time. We've all worked with moonlighters in the past, and it doesn't work when your attention is 100%. In fact
it's got to be 110% for it to really work!

LRA: The band has harnessed an incredible following here in New Jersey. You also played as far out as Ohio and Vermont. What's your secret for success?

Ant: There are many ingredients to being successful but it all boils down to being on stage and the connection you make with your fans. People connect with your vibe on stage and know when you are for real or not. Some bands have it. some don't. The Benjamins have always found a way to connect with our audience on stage.

Joe: Being our selves. People can tell when you are trying to be something you're not. Also, you need to take a larger than life
attitude when you hit the stage. People go out to see a show to forget about what's going on in their life, or just to blow some steam off.
You need to captivate them!

Jeremy: Taking risks. We always try to do what's best for our careers. We could just stay in NJ and make money and have fun, but we want to get out there and expose ourselves to as many people wherever, whenever.

LRA: Your debut record "GO" was released in (2004). Sometimes it's tuff to sell an audience on original material. What kind of response
have you received concerning music from "GO"? Is it essential to mix covers into your original performances or have you gotten to the point where originals can hold an audience?

Anthony: We started with slowly working the originals into our cover shows playing in front of thousands of people a night. Within a few months we noticed a better response to our songs than bands that we cover and it's been that way ever since. When we play original shows, we do not play any covers.

Joe: "Go" hit in 2004. We recorded it ourselves and loved every minute of it. I think the response was very positive. As far as mixing in originals, I would always recommend that at first. Sometimes people won't listen if they don't know what it is, but once you have the croud in your hands, you hit them with your music. That way, they are ready to listen. After doing that for a couple months, now they wait for it. They want to be part of something that is going to be big..:0)

Jeremy: We have received an awesome response! Our fans were always willing to listen. Now we're at the point we can get away with doing all original shows.

LRA: Tell us a little bit about yourselves individually. Who were your influences, why do you play music and anything else you want the masses to know about you.

Jeremy (Drums): I always knew I wanted to be a musician; my father is a musician and it was always there for me as an inspiration. How I picked drums was simple. My brother exposed me to Rush at an early age and that was it. I had to be like Neil Peart. Other than Neil, I play because of drummers like Stewart Copeland, John Bonham, and Peter Criss.

Ben (Bass): I started out in the "family trade" playing guitar then I switched to Bass. Jeremy and I started playing in hardcore/ metal bands in high school. My influences are Metallica, Weezer, S.T.P. and Bon Jovi.

Ant (Guitar): I had many interests as a kid but the first time I picked up a guitar it felt right so I stuck with it ever since. I'm a true fan of "arena rock." And my earliest influences are Kiss, AC/DC, Rush, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, The Cars and and S.T.P. As a guitar player and songwriter, I've learned to expose myself to many types of music. When I'm home I write songs, watch baseball, movies and listen to jazz (because it clears my head).but at the end of the day there's nothing like rocking out with my Les Paul on stage in front of thousands of people.

Joe (Vocals): My influences are Bon Jovi, Chicago, Toad The Wet Sprocket, STP. Growing up, I listened to more solo vocalists like Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie because all my parent's records (yes the big records) were all we had. I love baseball, will watch any game. Big animal lover. Got two dogs, a Beagle and a King Charles. I guess all that's left to say is, I'm ready to take on the world, and bring some arena rock back to the people...

LRA: You have played some very impressive venues. What was your favorite and why?

Ant: We have played some impressive venues but my favorite Benjamins show was the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville last October. It was a "landmark" show for the band as an original act because we were the opening band for Third Eye Blind and most of the people were there to see us. It was a sold out show to 2500 people.

Jeremy: My favorite venue was the Tradewinds in Sea Bright, which was torn down a few years ago. It was such a great stage to play; a real NJ shore rock venue

LRA: "Go" was recorded in the basement and from what I hear...quite impressive. Your new record "Chronicles of the Garden State" is due up soon. What can we expect as far as similarities or differences to the "GO" record?

Ant: Although "GO" cd sales reached all over the country and overseas, most of the cds were sold to our fans in the Northeastern US. For Chronicles.the new cd. we have a record label, (Core Records)a producer, and major distribution behind us which will bring the band to the next level. We've decided to re-record 4 songs from the "GO" cd for Chronicles. There will also be 8 new songs, some of which have been circulating among our fans and on MySpace.

Jeremy: Similarly I think we've continued our great songwriting with a set of very distinct tracks; each one different from the next. Differences are in the quality of the production; we actually have a producer now helping guide us to have the best sound possible. Also, the songs are more like that of a rock band, which is what we are! No keys this time; we've developed our sound using nice vocal and guitar layers.

LRA: I know you've done some very cool shows with some big time exposure like WPLJ, FOX TV and the Garden. Where do you go from here? All compass points seem to point North for The Benjamins. Are there any bigger plans for the band in the near future?

Ant: For me? I'd like to have a bunch of hit songs and play arenas all over the world. The sky is the limit!

Jeremy: We'd like to tour as soon as possible for the record when it comes out. Perhaps take this show across the pond to the rest of the world.

LRA: I want to know more about The Benjamins...mostly, how did you come up with the name? More importantly, where can I buy your records and read more about you guys?

Ant: Well first, you can read about us at "Let's Rock America" :). To keep it simple, our website has all the information and links you would need. Music, downloads, press, merchandise, schedule info, myspace link etc. www.thebenjamins.net

This dialogue was reported by Rich Kubicz for letsrockamerica.com. - LetsRockAmerica.com

How does a band transition from a regionally popular cover band into an original band on the verge of national success? For answers, look no further than The Benjamins, a Jersey Shore cover band who just released their first album of original material, Go.
Formed in 2000, The Benjamins set out to become a popular cover band, and being an 'original' band was not a major consideration, according to drummer Jeremy Luke.
"That [being a cover band] was the main idea... [And] being an original band may have been in the back of our minds," says Luke. According to Luke, audience response to The Benjamins was nearly instantaneous.
"We got a good response right away. We were doing something at the time other than what was going on by doing 80s songs and obscure material, and taking songs and making them our own."
There are some pieces in The Benjamins' repertoire that audiences can't seem to get enough of, such as Ah-Ha's "Take On Me", Rick Springfield's "Jessie's Girl", and anything from the Bon Jovi catalog.
With their winning performances giving them an ever growing fan base, The Benjamins began to receive greater recognition. In 200 I they appeared on the VH-I game show Cover Wars, in 2003 they landed a Budweiser True Music Sponsorship, and they've played for nearly 20,000 attendees at both Continental Airlines Arena, and Madison Square Garden at halftime for the Nets and the Knicks, respectively. Also, this summer they opened for The Goo Goo Dolls at WPU's' Summer Blast Off at Jenkinson's.
During this time, the band also released two albums of cover songs, and it was with the recent addition of guitarist Anthony Picone that the band decided to cross over from being a cover band to being an original band. According to Luke, "The idea of becoming a coyer band was definitely in the back of our minds, but not the main focus. When Anthony joined the band, we moved forward with that idea. Anthony was really the catalyst in getting that out of the band. It was just the right chemistry." Having previously performed with two other guitarists, the group finally found its missing component to writing original songs in Picone.
With their album of original material, Go, The Benjamins show their roots as a cover band while still expressing their own ideas. Their style of melodic, sing-a-long hard rock is reminiscent of Bon Jovi, a favorite on the Jersey Shore .. cover circuit. The music is both hard and tender, and sure to be a hit with anyone who enjoys powerful and catchy radio rock.
The Benjamins, having achieved such great popularity as a cover band, plan on casing audiences into their next stage as an original band. According to Luke, the band plans on introducing audiences to its original material "very slowly, very carefully, with about one original per night." Starting in the fall, the band plans on including sets of all originals into their schedule.
So far, the audience response , to The Benjamins' original material has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
"It's phenomenal, actually. I can't express how great it's been," says Luke. Audiences already have been singing along with the new material, and it appears that The Benjamins' loyal fan base will follow them into this next stage in their career. "The Secret" from Go was even recentIy included in Fox's Music from the DC competition to find new music to be played on the hit show.
According to drummer Jeremy Luke, "The goal is to get our music to the fans, to be heard and recognized not only as a good cover band, but also as a good original band that can have their own ideas." - Night & Day Magazine

Hundreds of fans flock weekend after weekend to join in a phenomenon that is as down-home New Jersey as cheese fries and gravy. Cover bands rake in thousands of dollars every single weekend in the Garden State, and 2O-somethings just cant seem to get enough.
At the forefront of this happening scene are The Benjamins-five Jersey boys who play to packed houses at virtually every show, not only for their dashing good looks, but also for their guaranteed good time. But there is so much more to this band than their stellar tributes to Bon Jovi.
Summer 2004 unleashed their first full-length album of original music entitled Go. A product solely of their own making, The Benjamins' latest project consists of well-written songs that are as exposed as they are rock hard. Lead singer Joe DeGennaro recently took me under the covers to shed some light on their new tunes and the current state of new music.

I really liked 'A New Day.' Do you write all the lyrics to the songs on your new album?

Its funny you asked, because I didn't write 'A New Day.' My brother wrote the lyrics, but then we changed some of them in the studio. 'A New Day' is mostly about any kind of relationship that you have where you fight about stupid stuff. It's all about starting over again and how you do that. Believe it or not, 'A New Day' is a song that we weren't going to record. We were just sitting in the studio one day, just screwing around, and we were thinking about what we were going to do with this song. So we ended up screwing around with it and we came up with the chorus. It was kind of a collaborative song where my brother wrote some lyrics and I wrote some lyrics. It worked out good.

Who writes the majority of the lyrics on the album?

Me.

I was going to say, somebody just got out of relationship!

(laughs) It's funny because '17 March' is one of my favorite songs on the album because it's about looking to the future and about what is going to be. Its like somebody is not around, but you know you are going to end up together. That's kind of a positive song. It's not like all the other songs are negative. I guess 'Love Is Dead' is kind of a negative statement.

Just a little bit. (laughs) I also liked 'Mirror.' I was actually a little surprised by it.

What's funny about that one is that it was originally a full rock song. Drums, bass, guitars, and it was a lot faster. We were running out options as far as our 10 songs. One day I was just hanging out when they were doing some stuff and I was just jammin' on the guitar and I was like, 'Grab a mic, let's get this.' I sang the song in one take, and that was it. We wanted to get a dry sound, just like sitting in the bathroom and believe it or not, most people, when they see us, want to hear that song. It's a hard song to play at our shows because people want to rock. I've done it a couple times and it's definitely a great song. People confuse the meaning, though, sometimes. The chorus, 'When I look into your eyes, everything I see, you're beautiful,' and I'm looking at her reflection in a mirror. Then it goes, 'You're right in front of me, but I can't touch you, I can only see you.' I was kind of sitting in front of my mirror jamming the song. Actually, my mom walked by and she's like, 'Dinner's ready!' So I saw her reflection and I thought that would be pretty cool.

You've spent so many years performing other people's music, now you get to finally perform your own. Some of your lyrics are pretty personal; do you have any reservations about that?

Park City Wednesdays are the biggest response we have to our album. It's a little more intimate and it's easier to play your music like that. I think it's great. Even with my first band, when we played shows. It's so cool to see people react to your songs.

Since you are one of the biggest cover bands in the area, I would like to hear your reaction to some of the new music that's out there. What do you think of Jet?

Jet? I think they're a poor man's AC/DC. I think their songs are catchy, their sound is catchy. But I would say they're not my favorite new band.

What is your favorite new band?

I like The Used. They're a screaming emo-ish band, but I love them. I think their writing is amazing. AFI is one of my favorite bands. They have some great writing and just the whole package, although they don't get pushed on the radio enough. I kind of like Yellowcard.
I'm kind of undecided about them. I'm not sure if I love the violin in there.

I'm not sure yet either. I got the album about a month ago, and it's okay. But I would definitely say that The Used and AFI are two of my favorite new bands. I think that they are unique. And how can you not love Velvet Revolver.

Definitely, it's an amazing line-up! You have Guns N' Roses and STP, how can you go wrong? As far as new, new bands ... Story of the Year is okay, Taking Back Sunday is okay. Maroon 5 has just taken me over as a newer band that I like because their stuff is so unique.

Their entire CD from front to back is awesome.

Just unique writing. They're out there. They just went out there and did their own thing. They're great, I love it.

Why dld you start out as a cover band and not full throttle into original music?

Well, back then, I was in an original band. So, I had my original project, and a way to make a living. We had a guitar player that we started out The Benjamins with. He was only with us for about a year and we cut him loose. This is our third guitar player, and our second was Abel. We were supposed to be doing originals three years ago, but for some reason, with Abel and I, it didn't work out. Abe was a great fit for the band, but his writing never panned out. So we wasted two years on waiting for this guy to write with us. We wanted a guy who was a good look, and could also write music. He said he had this and that, and before we knew it, we were in the studio and we were writing, and it just didn't pan out. After that, we wasted so much time debating on what we were going to do, whether we were going to keep him in the band. I actually had to go out and find our new guitar player. I went out and saw a couple bands and I saw the guy I wanted. He sings great, he has a good presence. I didn't know about his writing yet, but his writing is amazing. He wrote a lot of the stuff on the album. It took awhile, but that's how it is. Anthony is a great guitar player and he really wants to do this and that's what we need. - EC Rocker

New Jersey has the most backward live music scene on earth! Where else do cover bands reign, while original bands have nowhere to play?

Fans of The Benjamins, one of New Jersey’s top cover bands, will now be exposed to another dimension of the band: original music. After throwing originals into its cover repertoire and releasing singles, the band has now released a full-length CD, entitled Go.

From its first track, “A New Day,” the disc immediately displays why The Benjamins rank at the top of the cover band charts when it comes to musicianship. The song’s infectious hooks are driven by a rock-hard pulse, laid down by drummer Jeremy Luke and a dirtily-melodic solo by lead guitarist Anthony Picone.

The band showcases its ability to incorporate the sound of some of the better modern rock bands it covers on a nightly basis, while sealing the signature Benjamins sound. Years in the cover scene has caused the band to develop originality, which is evident even when it plays other bands’ music.

Underneath the modern rock approach of Go lies a versatility which shows the band's wide range of influences. Picone adds a nice raw, metal touch to the disc, while a little grunge can be found beneath Ben DeGennaro’s bass notes. Both members also show their ability to build sensible melodies in the process.

Lyrically, on many songs like “Wonderful,” the band sings of the need to express one’s feelings in a relationship – a relatable topic to many couples. Vocalist Joe DeGennaro sings the band's statements with emotion and conviction. The disc even includes a Benjamins-heavy version of Pat Benatar’s "Invincible."

The release of Go will serve to solidify the respect that the band has already earned from its fans and gain that of those not already familiar with the group's musical and creative abilities. - Chorusandverse.com

"Chronicles of the Garden State", the highly anticipated second album from The Benjamins, showcases their thriving career outside of being New Jersey's much loved cover band.

Three years in the making, their latest effort is well worth the wait. The 12-track album, released on Core Records, is just as inviting, if not moreso, than their 2004 debut album "Go".

Whether the lyrics focus on breaking up or getting together, The Benjamins have a knack for putting relationships in a down-to-earth, relatable perspective and know just the right sound to go along for the ride.

"Promises" is a surefire single, with a chorus that's hard to shake, "I'll make up your mind/So much for promises/I can't win/They're overrated."

The Benjamins show a softer side on "Wonderful" both lyrically and musically. "All I need is to see you smile/Walk awhile/Be your friend again/All I want is to see you mine forever/'Cuz you're wonderful."

A soft, powerpop chorus compliments the otherwise alternative rock sound on "17 March."

"If This is My Confession" is an attempt to gain someone's affection back, "I didn't know enough/Did enough/To take your breath away."

On "A New Day' and "One Way," an unexpected screamo verse is a special treat.

"Love is Dead" reeks of pure emotion. Desperation is evident in the vocals and lyrics, "Cross my heart and hope to die/Nothing more I can try/I'm helpless/It's helpless."

"Mannequin Gods" ends the album on a playful note. "Gave you a taste but then you took it too far/We all follow the Mannequin Gods."

Overall, The Benjamins have made an album with catchy tracks to boot. "Chronicles of the Garden State" is The Benjamins staying true to their edgy, modern rock originality that will have old and new fans rocking out from start to finish. - Steppin' Out Magazine