On Saturday night, Ben Deignan marked the release of his new self-titled CD with a party at the Hard Rock Cafe’s Velvet Underground. Deignan has plenty of reasons to celebrate, because his new full-length album is a great showcase of his sexy soulful voice. Many have compared Deignan to another young musician who once rocked Atlanta’s local music scene: John Mayer.
Although Deignan and Mayer both credit soul singers like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as influences, Deignan does a better job of channeling those greats through his relaxed but powerful vocals and a full band backing his every note. Where Mayer might use his masterful blues guitar skills to invoke emotion, Deignan uses his well-honed pipes and a band full of Robert-Randolph-type riffs.
Deignan’s sound might be a little funkier than most, but it is remarkably fresh and mainstream. Whether you are a fan of pop, rock, soul or R&B, you will find a new favorite on this album. While “Oh” and “Sorry is Not Enough” infuse pop and funk, “Touch” shows off Deignan’s slower R&B side with an almost lazy beach-type quality. With the complete package of looks, stage presence and polished tracks, we will soon be lamenting about how we knew Deignan when. Be sure to catch this local star while you still can.
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