Following in the footsteps of a famous parent is always hard, but following two famous parents is nigh on impossible.

I work in the same industry as my father did and for years every time anyone spoke to me it began with “so you’re the son of…..”. It used to brass me off and I’m sure that Ben Taylor must squirm a little at always being referred to as the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon, rather than as a musician in his own right. Still, as I’ve discovered, better to be the stock of good, than bad.

Fair play to the young man, he has made an LP that clearly has his own stamp on it, but it isn’t exactly to my taste. It’s all a bit too safe, a bit too middle of the road and will no doubt sell bucket loads to the generation that see Jack Johnson as cutting edge music.

The opening track is the pleasant ‘Nothing I Can Do’, which is simple and catchy but not spectacular. ‘Always’, ‘Someday Soon’ and ‘Lady Magic’ are equally acceptable chunks of background music, but lack that certain something that grabs you and won’t let go.

By the time that ‘Think A Man Would Know’ appears mid album, the appearance of a female voice is a welcome diversion, before the highlight of ‘Surround Me’ arrives and suggests that maybe he has a future beyond the shadow of his parents.

I wanted to end with by saying Ben Taylor: Nobody Does It Better, but in truth must sign off with Ben Taylor: Could And Hopefully Will Do Better.








Track Listing