Ben Harper [2001] Live From Mars

[01] Glory & Consequence
[02] Excuse Me Mr.
[03] Alone
[04] Sexual Healing
[05] Woman In You
[06] Ground On Down
[07] Steal My Kisses
[08] Burn One Down
[09] Mama's Got A Girlfriend
[10] Welcome To The Cruel World
[11] Forgiven
[12] Faded - Whole Lotta Love
[13] Waiting On An Angel
[14] Roses From My Friends
[15] Power Of The Gospel
[16] Pleasure And Pain
[17] Please Bleed
[18] The Drugs Don't Work
[19] In The Lord's Arms
[20] Not Fire, Not Ice
[21] Beloved One
[22] #3
[23] Walk Away
[24] Another Lonely Day
[25] Like A King - I'll Rise



amg: Ben Harper is a road dog. He and his band, the Innocent Criminals, travel around the world playing nearly 200 shows a year; therefore, it was only a matter of time before this guitar virtuoso made a live album. Live From Mars, an enigmatic two-disc set of 25 songs, celebrates the rise of Harper, his incredible live presence between 1998 and 2000, and the appreciation between him and his audience. His fragile acoustics have been thrown into a massive guitar storm on disc one, a thunderous combination of his signature folky blues-funk rock & roll. He's soulful and approachable on "Excuse Me Mr." and "Burn One Down," but he reaches for something tangible on Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing." The vibe is calm and cool while Harper's vocals scale between a sweet falsetto and a rugged twang. "Faded" exudes Harper's electric twitching, and its perfection swaggers into a riveting cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" for a near ten-minute car crash of pure rollicking. He switches from his electric to an acoustic for disc two, making his informality even more enticing. "Waiting on an Angel" is delicate, similar to the likes of Jeff Buckley, but it's the beauty of the Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work" that truly captures the standard of excellence that Harper depicts as a performer. Acoustically, he's honored and such praise is deserved. He's practically flawless. He's a modest artist, and such humility is found among his songs. He's achieved respectability with his fans that only so many artists are able to attain. Live From Mars is a proper release and certainly an inviting look into Harper and the showmanship he projects while spending time on the road.
(amg 6/10)

Ben Harper [1999] Burn To Shine

[01] Alone
[02] The Woman In You
[03] Less
[04] Two Hands Of A Prayer
[05] Please Bleed
[06] Suzie Blue
[07] Steal My Kisses
[08] Burn To Shine
[09] Show Me A Little Shame
[10] Forgiven
[11] Beloved One
[12] In The Lord's Arms



amg: Burn to Shine presents proof positive that you can always distill the essence of rock & roll down to a solitary man alone with his guitar and conscience. It sounds inventive yet firmly rooted in the blues-rock singer/songwriter/guitarist tradition of Taj Mahal and of Neil Young and Cat Stevens at their most confessional. Harper's guitar with falsetto vocal in "The Woman in You" even suggests a Curtis Mayfield tune in the hands of Prince. "Steal My Kisses" is one of those uncluttered, radio-friendly rock shuffles that simply makes you bob your head and feel better. Even Harper's detours — like the wobbling New Orleans shuffle with the Real Time Jazz Band, "Suzie Blue," and charred Black Sabbath metal in "Less" — prove worth exploring. Other cameos include guitarists David Lindley and former Bob Marley sideman Tyrone Downey. Burn to Shine is a minor masterpiece that may prove to be not so minor.
(amg 8/10)

Ben Harper [1997] The Will To Live

[01] Faded
[02] Homeless Child
[03] Number Three
[04] Roses From My Friends
[05] Jah Work
[06] I Want To Be Ready
[07] The Will To Live
[08] Ashes
[09] Widow Of A Living Man
[10] Glory & Consequence
[11] Mama's Trippin'
[12] I Shall Not Walk Alone



amg: On his third album, Will to Live, Ben Harper strengthens his populist folk with a grittier groove, which even borders on funk, that makes his music more immediate. Harper still has a tendency to preach, yet his melodies are catchier than before, and he has a better sense of rhythm, helping his bluesy songs catch hold.
(amg 7/10)

Ben Harper [1995] Fight For Your Mind

[01] Oppression
[02] Ground On Down
[03] Another Lonely Boy
[04] Please Me Like You Want To
[05] Glod to Me
[06] Burn One Down
[07] Excuse Me Mr.
[08] People Lead
[09] Fight For Your Mind
[10] Give A Man A Home
[11] By My Side
[12] Power Of The Gospel
[13] God Fearing Man
[14] One Road To Freedom



amg: Fight for Your Mind fully embraces Ben Harper's influences (Dylan, Marley, Havens, and Hendrix) into a complete sound while simultaneously broadening his thematic and musical palette. Oliver Charles' tactile drumming and Leon Mobley's percussion work give a sparkle to Harper's music that was absent on his debut. Songs like "Gold to Me" and "Excuse Me Mr." show Harper growing as a poet, approaching ideas via more subtle avenues. The single "Ground on Down" and epic jam "God Fearing Man" capture some of the explosive energy of his live performances. The latter makes allusions to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," and that's exactly what Harper does — allows his trademark Weissenborn guitar to scream out to his audience. The only misstep on this album is his sophomoric weed anthem "Burn One Down," but one might argue that a little tarnish adds character.
(amg 8/10)

Ben Harper [1994] Welcome To The Cruel World

[01] The Three Of Us
[02] Whipping Boy
[03] Breakin' Down
[04] Don't Take That Attitude To Your Grave
[05] Waiting On An Angel
[06] Mama's Got A Girlfriend Now
[07] Forever
[08] Like A King
[09] Pleasure And Pain
[10] Walk Away
[11] How Many Miles Must We March
[12] Welcome To The Cruel World
[13] I'll Rise



amg: The full range of Ben Harper's influences would not come to bear until later albums, but his debut, Welcome to the Cruel World, lays a strong foundation. "Like a King" and "Take That Attitude to Your Grave" burn with a political conviction rarely heard during the 1990s. "Forever" has a tenderness which demonstrates Harper's emotional range. Lackluster hippie jams that cultivated his early following may have served a purpose but feel fluffy by comparison when compared to the meatier tracks. Ben closes the album with a song that frequently closes his concerts, "I'll Rise." This song, built around Maya Angelou's 1979 poem "And Still I Rise," reminds one of art's ability to pierce through society, self, and the soul.
(amg 6/10)