A peak into the record (or CD) collection of Craig Benedict Valentine Badynee is likely to reveal a few albums from the Seventies from David Bowie, T. Rex, and Nilsson. That seems like a pretty sure bet. His new EP, Don't Leave Your House to an Amateur, mastered by Warren Defever (His Name is Alive) is a lush affair, but one which has a wit about it, both musical and lyrical.
Last year saw the extraordinary "I Walked Away from the Firing Sqaud" which was highlighted here. Thankfully, the rest of this EP is cut from a similar cloth. Opener "Blackmailer, Blackmailer" is spry with a kinda "Hang Onto Yourself"-sorta vibe about it, while the far more lush "Everybody's Talkin' For Me" put me in mind of those Grant Lee Buffalo songs written for the film Velvet Goldmine (1998). Neatly arranged, the song is anchored by flute from VV Lightbody. Elsewhere, "Golden Country" has a nice propulsive hook to it, even as Craig's vocals are as sweet as honey. Twangy in a good way, this one is a gem that's sort of the flip of the balladry of "I Walked Away from the Firing Sqaud" from 2025 (also here).
Craig Benedict Valentine Badynee has mad skills, as the kids say. His talents put him in a place where most of the apt points of comparison are records from the Seventies, though this reviewer realizes some may compare this favorably to some Father John Misty stuff. Don't Leave Your House to an Amateur is full of music that has the sweep of the best records from your youth (or your parents' younger years, as it were), and enough modern snap to it as to make it a unique proposition. What's next? Surely an EP is not enough from Craig Benedict Valentine Badynee, is it?
Don't Leave Your House to an Amateur by Craig Benedict Valentine Badynee is out now via Team Love Records.
[Photo: CBVB Bandcamp]