On May 29, Alec Benjamin released his debut album called “These Two Windows.” “These Two Windows” is also known as the name for his 2020 summer tour, which was postponed because of COVID-19. It was also accompanied by a music video for the song titled, “Match In the Rain.” The name “These Two Windows” comes from his song that is also in the album called “My Mind is a Prison.” With a collection of ten songs of the album, Benjamin was definitely able to cover a number of topics.

 “Oh My God,” “Demons,” “My Mind is a Prison,” and “I’m Not a Cynic” have done an exceptionally good job of covering what it is to struggle with mental health, especially while feeling alone at times. Alec Benjamin has publicly expressed his struggle with OCD and how he tends to overthink a lot. With that being said, a lot of fans have expressed how closely they identify with this focus on mental health. It seems “Demons” and “My Mind is a Prison” can also be closely related to symptoms of depression. “I’m Not a Cynic” can be applied to almost every person because it consists of someone denying their problems in order to get around them. “Oh my God” tends to be about the process of growing out of yourself. It is very nostalgic, describing how people can grow into the real world and specifically its problems, which include mental health. 

Mental health is a very relevant topic especially in the demographic his music seems to target, which is mostly older Gen Z individuals and younger Millennials. Another very common but relevant topic is heartbreak. In this new album, he has the songs, “Match in the Rain” and “The Book of You & I,” which touch on this theme. Similar to “Oh My God,” they are also very nostalgic, remembering the so-called “good times.” The acoustic guitar that is included in almost every one of his songs also adds to the same tone. 

The rest of the album consists of a wide variety that is not usually covered in the music industry at all. “Must Have Been the Wind” is about domestic violence, “Just Like You” is about a father-son relationship, “Alamo” seems to be about the effects of corruption found in society, and “Jesus in LA” is about the truth about trying to find happiness in superficial things. 

Additionally, the lyrics are beautifully written overall. Some can be very applicable to the present climate of this country. In Alamo, Benjamin writes, “You can’t tell me that it’s treason, this is stand, and rebel, I won’t pledge you my allegiance, I’ll just bid you farewell.” I recommend this album to anyone struggling with mental health, going through heartbreak, passionate about their political stances, and anyone who enjoys listening to acoustic music with uncommon and beautifully written topics.