Benji assembles the Tightens, a backing band of monumental proportions, a band with sterling credentials, a band comprised of Serious Business all-stars, and he takes you, the careful listener, on a country-fueled, 70s-styled musical joy-ride through the heart of man. For now, the record is available as an extremely-limited vinyl-only thing. You can also buy it digitally. The vinyl comes with a free download.

Benji's songs have never been driven by such power! One fruitful weekend of a seven-piece band recording live-to-2" tape got us six tunes. The rest of the record was fleshed out through informal one-offs. The result is pure Benji.

Benji Cossa and the Tightens
The Tightens:
Benji Cossa
Josh Kaufman
Annie Nero
Eric Jackson
Brian Kantor
Gerald Menke
Travis Harrison
The Two Man Gentlemen Band: Andy Bean and the Councilman Fuller Condon
Geoff Mann's Hornets: Matt Moon & Eric Biondo

Produced, mixed, recorded by Travis Harrison. Track 2 recorded by Halsey Quemere. All at Serious Business Music, NYC
Mastered by Richard Morris @ Masterdisk, NYC

Side A:
Volcano
Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing
Annie Nero: bass
Brian Kantor: drums
Eric Jackson: electric guitar
Josh Kaufman: piano
Gerald Menke: pedal steel
Travis Harrison: tambo
Geoff Mann: Horn arrangement
Matt Moon: sax
Eric Biondo: trumpet

18 Months
Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing The Councilman Fuller Condon: upright bass, backing singing
Andy Bean: 4 string plectrum banjo (America's favorite instrument), backing singing

Drag You Away Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing
Annie Nero: bass
Brian Kantor: drums
Eric Jackson: electric guitar
Josh Kaufman: piano
Gerald Menke: pedal steel
Travis Harrison: tambo

Under the Same Blue Sky
Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing
Annie Nero: bass
Brian Kantor: drums
Eric Jackson: electric guitar
Josh Kaufman: piano
Gerald Menke: pedal steel
Travis Harrison: tambo

Monument
Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, accordion, singing
Annie Nero: bass
Brian Kantor: drums
Eric Jackson: electric guitar
Josh Kaufman: piano, Wurlitzer
Travis Harrison: tambo

Side B:
Indian Princess
Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing
Annie Nero: bass, backing singing
Brian Kantor: drums, backing singing
Eric Jackson: electric guitar, backing singing
Josh Kaufman: piano, backing singing
Gerald Menke: pedal steel
Travis Harrison: tambo

Haley's Comet
Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing
Eric Jackson: trombone
Travis Harrison: cymbals

So Good
Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing
Annie Nero: bass
Brian Kantor: drums
Eric Jackson: electric guitar
Josh Kaufman: piano
Travis Harrison: tambo
Geoff Mann: Horn arrangement
Matt Moon: sax
Eric Biondo: trumpet

In Dew Time Benji Cossa: acoustic guitar, singing
Josh Kaufman: piano, backing singing

"Cossa rounds out 2008 with "Benji Cossa and the Tightens," which sees the artist take to the studio with a full country band to stunning effect. The album starts off with the lively "Volcano," a song that makes delightful, show-offy use of all the musicians gathered, before settling into a realm not too different from before, but with an breezy, '70s country feel, a la Michael Nesmith. Highlights includes the mesmerizing "Haley's Comet" with its haunting horn work and the head-rocking, barroom pop tune "So Good."
-John E. Mitchell, the North Adams Transcript