Benjamin Tod has always been a music creature living in two distinct worlds.
While keeping alive his original musical outfit, the Lost Dog Street Band, in parallel he launched a solo career. While often presenting his music with accompaniment, he’s also perfectly willing and able to perform alone acoustically. His personal disposition is one of drawing from cool and contemplative wisdom, but then he’s willing to give Gavin Adcock and “Bro Country” what for via unchecked aggression. He’s one of the most underground artists in existence, yet has seen major success compared to many peers.
All of these reasons and more are why Benjamin Tod has become somewhat polarizing in certain circles recently, and why he remains an intriguing artist to follow, whatever lightning rods he might pose. Over recent years as Tod has leaned into the country roots of his music, he’s taken the charge of preserving those roots personally.
All of this is the setup, or perhaps the culmination to his new 20-track album Vengeance and Grace—a unique project that will feature 10 songs recorded with Tod’s new traditional country band called The Inline Six. The second half will feature these same songs, just rendered acoustically, which is the way some prefer the Benjamin Tod experience, including those who discovered him through Gems on VHS or Western AF videos. The new album will be released on April 17th.
Though Tod has recently been working with Shooter Jennings—including his recent single “Hell I Have” and a version of “Outlaw Shit” featuring Shooter—Vengeance and Grace is produced by well-known and respected producer Andrija Tokic, with Tod also credited as producer on tracks. Previously-released songs “My Pride” and “Goner” are also part of the album. Coinciding with the album announcement, and as a sort of explainer of the concept is the acoustic version of the “Vengeance and Grace” title track.
“I’d like to believe justice is woven somewhere between the two, which is the usual goal, whether it’s a reward or a punishment,” Tod says about the two nouns. “There’s always a circulation in my life trying to balance these, and every verse in the song transitions from one to the other. If I really listen to every movement and line, it can still make me emotional.”
Benjamin Tod decided to put his Lost Dog Street Band on indefinite hiatus after his wife and primary band mate Ashley Mae announced she was having the couple’s first child. This has allowed Tod to lean into his country influences more and more, including his last album Shooting Star (2024) that embraced different country eras.
Many will highly anticipate Benjamin Tod’s new album Vengeance and Grace. A few others will swear to not even sniff at it. That’s the dual world universe Tod lives in. But it’s embracing that reality and being distinctly himself that has earned him many believers.
Vengeance and Grace is now available for pre-save/pre-order.
Track List:
1.Vengeance and Grace
2. End Of My Rope
3. It’s What You Meant
4. Goner
5. Closing The Door
6. Martyr Of A Man
7. My Pride
8. Ticket Home
9. The Bottle’s Gone
10. I Ain’t Bound
11. Vengeance and Grace (Alone)
12. End Of My Rope (Alone)
13. It’s What You Meant (Alone)
14. Goner (Alone)
15. Closing The Door (Alone)
16. Martyr Of A Man (Alone)
17. My Pride (Alone)
18. Ticket Home (Alone)
19. The Bottle’s Gone (Alone)
20. I Ain’t Bound (Alone)
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source savingcountrymusic.com ’
