Singer, songwriter and guitarist Brendan Benson recorded a trio of well-crafted solo albums between 1996 and 2005, all three deserving far more attention than they received, but things did ramp up for the 38-year old Royal Oak native when he subsequently formed The Raconteurs with Jack White of The White Stripes. Raconteurs albums “Broken Boy Soldiers” and “Consolers Of The Lonely” debuted in Billboard magazine’s Top Ten, plus the band played numerous high profile gigs that included appearances at the Bonnaroo, Coachella and Lollapalooza Festivals.

Currently taking a break from The Raconteurs, Benson releases on Tuesday his first solo album in well over four years, “My Old, Familiar Friend.” Another terrific slice of power-pop that stylistically tips its hat to The Who, Motown, Paul McCartney’s Wings and Elvis Costello’s Attractions, this recording definitively proves that Benson has more than enough talent to hold his own as a solo artist. Benson will be in Ann Arbor for a free performance and CD signing at the downtown Borders this Friday, followed by a full concert Saturday night, Aug. 22 at the Blind Pig.

After self-producing his first three solo albums, Benson went for the gusto and brought in big-name producer Gil Norton to helm his new project. Norton has an impressive track record, having worked with The Pixies, Foo Fighters, Patti Smith and Counting Crows. “I did the past ones myself at home and I would run around like a madman writing it producing it and performing it,” says Benson, who spoke to us from his current home in Nashville. “This time around I couldn’t bear the thought of all that, and I also saw the error of my ways. I thought I could benefit from a producer’s input. I got exactly what I wished for with Gil. He’s super methodical and meticulous in ways in which I had never thought about.”

“My Old, Familiar Friend” has references to many familiar bands and genres, including distinct traces of the Motown sound on “Garbage Day,” which has a luscious string arrangement and a ‘four-on-the-floor’ drum pattern taken right out of the Berry Gordy playbook. There’s also a keyboard part on “Gonowhere” — played by Andrew Higley — that is downright Mcartney-esque. “That synth is totally 'Band On The Run,' says Benson. “It’s one of my favorite records of all time.”

Higley is also featured playing Farfisa organ on the album’s rollicking opening track, “A Whole Lot Better,” which brings to mind another well-known artist. “The Farfisa is not actually one of my favorite sounding things,” says Benson. “I don’t think I’ve ever used it before or will again, but I thought ‘what the hell.’ It’s just a plain, flat-out nod to Elvis Costello’s Attractions. No one in The Raconteurs liked Elvis Costello except me. I was trying to turn them on to Elvis without success. I mean, if you’re into The Stooges, how can you not like him? The energy is still there.”

Speaking of The Raconteurs, Benson makes it sound unlikely that they’ll be back together anytime in the near future. “I don’t know about The Raconteurs,” he says. “It was founded on this idea that we would do something when we found the time and the mood hit us. I could see it happening again if we all have time off at the same time. But now it’s Dead Weather [for Jack White] and my stuff.”

Watch the video for “Cold Hands, Warm Heart” from '05 CD “The Alternative to Love”:

In talking to Benson, we bonded over the fact that both of us spent years working in brick-and-mortar record stores, which are turning into an endangered species due to the rise of digital downloading and online retailing. “There’s nothing tangible about music anymore,” bemoans Benson. “It’s a shame. But beyond downloads versus the record or the CD is the fact that there’s not a lot of good music right now. There’s not much to sink your teeth into. It’s a lot of crap. There’s more crap now than ever. Maybe there’s a reason people aren’t into music anymore.”

There’s no doubt at all about Benson’s own passion for music, as he was a fan well before he worked in record stores and took up the guitar himself. “I thought I was different from most people in the way I was so obsessed with music,” he says. “It meant a lot, it shaped me, it identified me and nowadays it doesn’t seem like you have that. It started in high school when I discovered punk rock and realized how important music could be. I remember hearing Minor Threat and it was like looking at a Playboy. I would go hide and listen to it on my Walkman. I felt a little bit terrified but enraptured.”

Brendan Benson will give a free performance and sign copies of “My Old, Familiar Friend” at 12:30pm this Friday, Aug. 21 at the Borders store on E. Liberty, with the performance carried live on Ann Arbor’s 107one. Benson then heads over to the Blind Pig for a concert on Saturday, Aug. 22, with special guest Annie Rossi. Doors open at 9:30pm.

Martin Bandyke is the 6-10am morning drive host on Ann Arbor’s 107one. Follow him on Twitter and at his web site.