ben harper

[AndySlash]

[zeb]

Live posting his new one...

[zeb]

When Sex Was Dirty: Probably his worst opener? Bad song, awful arrangement.

[zeb]

Deeper and Deeper: Yes, this is the actual track order. When Sex Was Dirty opens the album and is followed by Deeper and Deeper. The song itself is nondescript and a faint echo of good songs he made a long time ago. The coda - his voice, guitar and a piano - should have been the complete arrangement because it at least sounded pretty.

[zeb]

Call It What It Is: Certainly a lot more enjoyable than the first two tunes. Probably stands alongside some of his better work.

[zeb]

How Dark Is Gone: A nice full arrangement and some legit vocals. At least the whole album isn't going to be a train wreck.

[zeb]

Shine: A disposable piece of pop with none of the charm of Steal My Kisses. At least the lead break sounds nice.

[zeb]

All That Has Grown: Just Ben and his guitar. Sounds terrific and I can relate to the lyrics. Solid.

[zeb]

Pink Balloon: One of those embarrassing Ben Harper tunes that you wish didn't even exist and really has no reason to. Ugh.

[Rangi Guy]

I can't say I'm getting a positive vibe from you about this album. I was quite excited about getting my hands on this later

[zeb]

Finding Our Way: An OK performance that sounds like a genre exercise and certainly doesn't come within sniffing distance of my top 25 Ben Harper tunes (if there is such a thing).

[zeb]

I can't say I'm getting a positive vibe from you about this album. I was quite excited about getting my hands on this later

Sorry Rangi, although only the diehardest of the diehards would be expecting this to be significantly better than average.

[zeb]

Bones: If we're really honest with each other we'll agree that this is not an album worthy composition from an artist who has been making albums for two decades.

[zeb]

Dance Like Fire: A thoughtful lead break isn't enough to save another predictable mid-tempo plodder. You deserved better, lead break.

[BDB]

fairly accurate review there....I listened to most of this tonight. Very, very disappointing.

At first I was surprised he's not selling out small clubs on this tour. now maybe it is clear that most people thinks he now sucks, and I think they are right.

[Strat]

He hasn't put out a great album in so long. I feel like solace saying that but its true. All of it.

[zeb]

Goodbye To You: I liked this one quite a bit. A strong closer that features some really interesting sonic elements.

[zeb]

So this is a really inconsistent album with a lot of problems and a few valuable moments. And that's pretty much how I would sum up Ben's career the further we get from his truly inspired work. His album with Musselwhite from a few years back was really good but I don't think that Ben's songwriting is getting better with age. When I hit those bad tunes it really makes me question why I liked Ben's music in the first place - the reality is I'm a different listener now to the listener I was in 1998 and I just don't feel like his music has that magical quality it had back then. I hate falling out of love with an artist but I really feel like that is the case here. I mean, who has the time for disappointing, below average song making when there is so much other terrific music out there that moves you?

[zeb]

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainmen ... er/475173/

[BDB]

So this is a really inconsistent album with a lot of problems and a few valuable moments. And that's pretty much how I would sum up Ben's career the further we get from his truly inspired work. His album with Musselwhite from a few years back was really good but I don't think that Ben's songwriting is getting better with age. When I hit those bad tunes it really makes me question why I liked Ben's music in the first place - the reality is I'm a different listener now to the listener I was in 1998 and I just don't feel like his music has that magical quality it had back then. I hate falling out of love with an artist but I really feel like that is the case here. I mean, who has the time for disappointing, below average song making when there is so much other terrific music out there that moves you?

afuckingmen