Kevin Bronson on January 24th, 2012

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It’s twisted irony that Brendan Benson is more renowned for being co-founder of the Raconteurs than for his first two solo albums, 1996’s ill-fated “One Mississippi” and 2002’s “Lapalco,” both of which featured collaborations with Jason Falkner.” (If you have neither and spot one in the bargain bin, indulge.) The cult of Jack White, I suppose. Which is OK, because Benson deserves to be able to pay his bills, as many heavenly hooks and melodies he has dispensed on those albums, his two releases as part of the Mood Elevator (also recommended) and his solo excursions since, “The Alternative to Love” (2005) and “My Old, Familiar Friend” (2009). The 41-year-old with the still-boyish croon just announced that his fifth solo album, “What Kind of World,” will be out April 21 (his son’s second birthday) via his own label, Readymade. The Nashville-based imprint will also release the debut of singer-songwriter Young Hines on April 10. “Bad for Me,” the first single from Benson’s forthcoming album, finds him at the piano rather than slinging a guitar, and the results, frankly, are a little too Billy Joel for me. Here’s hoping to see him with a Telecaster slung over his shoulder.

||| Download: “Bad for Me”

||| Live: Brendan Benson and Young Hines play May 12 at the Troubadour.

Photo by Reid Rolls