Pop Quiz: Brendan Benson

Pop Quiz: Brendan Benson

Aidin Vaziri | Brendan Benson is the new Loretta Lynn. Not because he wears lots of frilly dresses and has big hair but because he's earned the rather vocal endorsement of fellow Michigan native and friend Jack White of the White Stripes, who once declared him the best songwriter, like, ever. Unfortunately, that and an instantly likable new album called "The Alternative to Love" haven't done much for Benson's bank account, which has been suffering ever since he sold about 15 million records less than the Spice Girls and was dropped by his former label, Virgin. If the wide-eyed title track from the new disc, on V2, doesn't change his fortunes, nothing will.

Brendan Benson
Q: You've been the "next big thing" for about 10 years now.
A: It's funny, because I get a lot of compliments from guys in bands without selling a lot of records. I guess it's sort of flattering.
Q: If they actually had to pay for CDs, maybe you would be platinum by now.
A: Totally.
Q: I know it's romantic to be an unknown songwriter. But don't you secretly wish you could be as big as Justin Timberlake?
A: I don't wish I could be as big as Justin Timberlake, for sure. But after not having any real success, the notion of being a cult artist does become more and more romantic to me. It's all I have to fall back on, I guess. So, sure, I'll accept.
Q: Maybe if you worked on your choreography.