Alec Benjamin, Mind is a Prison | Track Review🎵

Pop singer/songwriter Alec Benjamin continues to shine on his final single from 2019, the relatable and thoughtful “Mind is a Prison.”

On his final single of 2019, “Mind is a Prison”, Alec Benjamin maintains the utmost consistency.  Once more, the pop singer/songwriter delivers gorgeous, impressive vocals.  As noted, time and time again, he has a distinct vocal tone, which continues to be the case on “Mind is a Prison.” He never has to push his voice, singing expressively and never forcing things.  There’s an ease that Benjamin sings with, yet never sells the emotions of the song the least bit short.

“Sometimes, I think too much, yeah, I get so caught up / I’m always stuck in my head.”  Ah, as awesome as Benjamin’s vocal performance is, the theme is where his ‘bread is buttered’ on “Mind is a Prison.” As the title suggests, Alec captures the power of the mind, in all its dangerousness.  Basically, he paints a picture lyrically about how it’s difficult to escape his own thoughts, much like prison.  He nails it on the chorus, setting up the mental imprisonment perfectly:

“Then I tied up my linen with five strips of ribbon I found
Scaled the side of the building, I ran to the hills ‘til they found me
And they put me back in my cell, all by myself
Alone with my thoughts again
Guess my mind is a prison and I’m never gonna get out.”

Of course, if you backtrack, Benjamin does pretty swell on the verses setting up his mental anguish. He cleverly sings, on the first verse, “I don’t live in California, I’ll inform you, that’s not where I reside / I’m just a tenant, paying rent inside this body and I.” Notably, he’s previously referenced his relationship with residing in California (“Jesus in L.A.”).  On the second verse, he specifically addresses his state of mind, singing, “I’m a prisoner, a visitor inside my brain.”

Final Thoughts 

As is the case with many Alec Benjamin songs, on “Mind is a Prison,” he delivers a compelling vocal performance and a legitimately, relatable song.  Additionally, the record is well produced, with a suitable backdrop for Benjamin to paint over with those amazing, boyish, yet nuanced pipes.  I’m excited to see what Mr. Benjamin has in store for us in 2020.

Alec Benjamin • Mind is a Prison [Single] • Alec Benjamin • Release: 12.12.19

Photo Credit: Alec Benjamin