My place of employment happens to be a library, with the music archives just one floor above me. As partake of the offerings to be had, I will attempt to share reviews of the more interesting sounds that I sample...
In reviewing Ben Harper's Fight for your Mind, I find myself wanting to make comparisons between Harper and several other musicians. I want to drop names like Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Randolph, Keb Mo' and Bonnie Raitt. The problem is, his sound is really hard to compare, because it's really something unique to itself.
Harper is one of those musicians who really understands the concept of the groove and how to use it. His primary instrument is Weissenborn lap steel guitar, that lends a really funky slide effect to his sound. His backing musicians are solid, with some excellent rhythm and bass lines supporting his lead.
Harper's style definitely couldn't be called reggae, but the kind of energy he exudes keeps evoking Marley's ghost (Especially on tracks like "Oppression"). His songs have a deep conviction to them, and many of his themes are spiritual. I wouldn't call his music "gospel", as his themes and convictions seem to stray outside the lines of what I'd call "Christian", but it is clear that he believes deeply in what he's saying, which lends his music a certain depth.
All of the tracks are excellent. None of them got the fast forward from me. A few, however, really got my attention.
"Ground On Down" - I'm just a sucker for a good blues jam and this one delivers. Rough and heavy, this is a bad-love lament at its best. If you're standing when you hear this one, you're gonna have to move.
"Please Me Like You Want To" - Slow, mellow and deep, this is the way to be rocked to sleep.
"Burn One Down" - Perhaps there's a deeper underlying meaning, but the basic message is simple: 'I'm gonna smoke a doobie, and you can leave if you don't like it.' Despite my complete rejection of drugs, it's hard to disagree too sharply with Ben on this one. I've read that things get interesting at concerts when they play this song.
Rating for the Lazy: 4.5 out of 5. Check this fine album out and, do yourself a favor, play it loud.
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Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Ben Harper is very cool. That's all I'm saying.