The Third Eye

Benny Jones is an English singer/songwriter whose music is an amalgamation of folk, pop, and psychedelic and even has some Americana vibes. Benny has taken influences from artists like David Bowie, Neil Young, The Beatles, a bit of Grateful Dead, and many more. His most recent album, Upon the Way That Weaves, was released on February 3rd, 2023.

About Upon The Way That Weaves

With 13 tracks, Upon the Way That Weaves is an album that is truly a wonderful journey for the listener. The music is calming, creating a sense of peace that removes all the noise from the world around you and evokes feelings of pure happiness. His Bandcamp profile has what I thought was an apt description of what you’ll hear in any of his albums …

“Cloud chiming guitars, hilltop chanting to distant monks, spellbinding dream songs carved from the ether.”

Standout Tracks

“Mountains of Light” kicks things off with a very mellow vibe and some of the best vocal performances in the album. There’s a definite psychedelic folk sound that is so laid back, with an incredible vocal part and a gorgeous acoustic guitar line throughout, giving you an idea of what the rest of this album will be about.

Next in line is “Miraculous,” a song that reminds me of Neil Young and the psychedelic era of The Beatles. The atmosphere is once again on the mellow side, but not to the extent that “Mountains of Light” was, and there is also a desert vibe in the second half of the song, which is felt the most during the guitar lead.

Coming in at the fourth spot in the track list is “Hover Over Brightly,” which is one of the best songs on the record. I hear The Beatles, David Bowie, The Grateful Dead, and Pink Floyd’s influences all over it, and simultaneously at that. I’ve loved harmonica since the first time I heard Neil Young, and his influence is felt when Benny breaks his out towards the end of the track. I wish there was a bit more harmonica, but the little used is amazing to my ears, closing the track out favorably.

“Gold Growing In His Hair” keeps the folk songs intact, harnessing more of that Neil Young vibe, which I feel is the predominant influence throughout the song. If you listen to how he strums his acoustic and applies subtle palm muting, it will scream Neil Young, but Benny doesn’t lose his individuality either, as his soul and feeling are felt as much as it is heard. Funnily enough, my wife pointed out that Benny also has a Tom Petty influence that runs throughout the track, which is another of my favorite artists.

“Wade My Way” is primarily a banjo and vocal dominant song with some slight similarities with “Mountains of Light,” mostly in certain vocal parts. I love the banjo’s tone; it reminds me of what I enjoy about bluegrass, folk, and Americana.

“Island Organ” gives me the impression of David Bowie singing a Neil Young-penned track to which The Beatles added their touch. This is just another reason to love what Benny does, and it is one of the strongest, most enjoyable songs presented here.

Final Thoughts

I’d like to start the Final Thoughts with Nick’s quote on Benny’s Bandcamp page; Nick said that Upon The Way That Weaves is …

“Pure magic. A dreamy folk with catchy melodies and excellent guitar playing. Go down the rabbit hole with this one and take an adventure in Wonderland.”

I completely agree with Nick’s take on the album and would add that the songwriting harkens back to an earlier time, a time when things were simple, full of beautiful melodies, and thoroughly enjoyable for all the right reasons.

So put down your devices, lay back in your most comfortable room, and let the soothing sounds of this album envelope you. Enjoy!

Support Benny Jones by checking out his Bandcamp or finding him on Facebook.

This review was written by Tom Hanno, who has been writing reviews for the last 7 years but has been sharing his love of music for the majority of his life. Originally starting out at the now defunct Chimera Magazine, he is currently contributing to Doomed and Stoned, The Sleeping Shaman, The Doom Charts, Tom’s Reviews, and The Third Eye. Read more of Tom’s reviews by checking out his Linktree.