Both Sides of the Gun

Lifeline Eight albums in just over a dozen years: validation that Ben Harper--mind or body--rarely rests, be it on the road with backing jam band the Innocent Criminals or buried in a studio, where the gifted singer-songwriter lays down his brand of peace-chanting, love-tilting music. Hi...	Diamonds on the Inside Ben Harper makes elegant leaps from reggae to rock to folk to funk and back in his fifth studio album. The rootsy singer-songwriter with the silken tenor isn't merely genuflecting at the altar of his musical heroes, as here he shows more quirky imagination and inventive musicians...	Fight for Your Mind Ben Harper Photos More from Ben Harper Diamonds on the Inside Both Sides of the Gun Welcome to the Cruel World Live From Mars The Will to Live Live at the Hollywood Bowl	Burn to Shine Harper's soulful musical mix continues to defy genre categorization and his growth as an artist continues to amaze. Burn to Shine is his most ambitious work to date, tapping a multitude of styles and moods and revolving as usual around his incredibly expressive vocals and searing...	Welcome to the Cruel World Ben Harper sounds good on paper. He's a 24-year-old Californian devoted to vintage acoustic guitars, original political songs and the unusual blend of calypso and Mississippi Delta blues--an inspired blend of David Lindley, Tracy Chapman, and Taj Mahal. Unfortunately, Harper's ex...
Sleep Through The Static Jack Johnson recorded his fourth album using nothing but solar power. This is somehow fitting for a singer-songwriter, surfer, and filmmaker who spends most of his days floating in the ocean under Hawaii's open skies. The forces of nature certainly seem to have found their way in...	There Will Be a Light Jam Nation hero Ben Harper tones down his lap-slide guitar flash in favor of the holy spirit for this blend of originals and gospel classics, his first full-length album with the historic singing group. They've worked together before, on the Blind Boys' excellent Higher Ground an...	Live from Mars With a slate of more than 200 shows a year, Ben Harper has never been an album-tour-album-tour kind of artist; for him and his fans, the stage is the ultimate proving ground. So after four studio albums, Harper has finally released his first official live set, a 25-song double-di...	The Will to Live At 28 years intense, Harper released his third album, a mixture of R&B, deep blues, folk-rock, even topical singer-songwriter work (the deliberate, bluesy "Homeless Child"). Harper's voice and style marry the funk-blues of Taj Mahal and the eccentric, electric Dylan. Those weaned...	In Between Dreams For a man who gets his biggest kicks surfing the waves and strumming his guitar on a lonely beach in native Hawaii, singer-songwriter Jack Johnson has carved out quite a remarkable career on the mainland. His 2003 album, On and On, debuted at No. 3 on The Billboard 200 and subseq...

Excellent, with a few exceptions
Anyone who has spent any time with Ben's music knows that he has the tendency to wax strange now and again, and "Both Sides of the Gun" is no exception. Not quite as masterful as his "Fight for Your Mind" days, "Both Sides" certainly is ambitious and rich in melodic texture. The mellower second disc does tend to lose unique identity from one song to another, making a more appealing background set rather than a compelling can't-turn-it-off ride from beginning to end. The first disc, with the single "Better Way" and many other powerful, catchy tunes, is definitely the most distinctive half of this collection. Harper lays down his thick, soulful grooves in a number of tunes, and his arrangements are fresh, yet still trademark Ben Harper. There are a few jarring moments, such as the shouting bit in "Better Way" and the fairly obnoxious "Please Don't Talk About Murder While I'm Eating," but they hardly outweigh the artistry and feel of the rest of the double disc. Not the best place for Ben Harper newbies to start, but a definite must-buy for any long-time fans.

Half and Half
This is a very interesting cd. I'm not crazy about disc 1 (the softer acoustic). I know Ben has a tremendous musical gift and is very versatile. I prefer his upbeat funk music like on disc 2. I think "Better Way", "Gather 'Round the Stone", and "Black Rain" are my favorites on this cd due to their overall message. "Black Rain" particularly hit me in an amazing way because of my political stand point on the current administration. I think its great that such a name as Ben Harper is making such an honest and truthful message. The song gives me the chills and 'pumps me up' every time I hear it. Worth buying the CD, and you have the option of the softer disc 1 or the heavier bold disc 2.

Not that great
To tell the truth, the only song i ever really liked by ben harper was "Faded" which is on a differant album. The album design is awesome, but the songs need a little more energy. Sure, i liked some of them, but overall, its not something i would want to listen to more than once. If you are a young person, like me, and desires music with a BANG, to it, don't buy this album.

No one is more consistent than Harper
If there is any other artist that continues time and time again to produce quality CDs on the level of Ben Harper, please let me know. Consistently, he brings eclectic and genre transcending albums that stand alone in music today. His lyrics never fail to reach a depth that challenges the listener to go back and listen for the 50th time in order to squezze yet another drop of his insight. Simply put, Ben Harper is the prophet of our age.

cheaper than itunes!
I like this album a lot, 4 stars. Just noticed it's cheaper here than on itunes. Dang, why not just buy the actual CD!