Why do these supposed pandemics cause so much fear and anxiousness?
The Swine Flu (renamed H1N1) caused Americans, nay, the world to panic like monkeys at the zoo. Vacationers to Mexico were wearing masks at the beach. Schools were closing down left and right. Extra hand washing took place. And, people stopped letting their dogs lick their faces.
This story has left the news, all accept the occasional death that happens from the Swine Flu... always in conjunction with other serious medical conditions like heart disease. And, this is exactly why I'm writing about it now.
People are idiots. Stop worrying about shit that isn't there. Stop worrying about stuff that IS, in fact, there, but will never reach YOU. Stop worrying!
Stop pissing and moaning. Stop yelling. Stop honking. Stop scowling. Stop it. Now!
Take a break, smoke a joint and relax. Because it just doesn't matter.
- Dr. Brian Wright (drugstore psychologist - cost $0)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
White Lies For Dark Times, Part III (Post-Show)
Ben Harper and Relentless7 nearly brought the house down.
Except for the guy who kept on screaming "Voodoo Chile" and "Burn One Down," the show couldn't have gone any better.
I don't want to write a review form post today. I just simply want to share that if you're not a fan of Ben Harper already, then fine. You're missing out on the best new music out there. There's a reason why I get to stand two feet away from the stage at every show. He's not mainstream. No complaints here.
At the end of the two-hour show, while finishing the second encore, with "Serve Your Soul" capping the night's performance, Ben Harper let his steel just rock back and forth on top of his Asher lap steel guitar. That rocking of the steel was the best outro to any concert I've ever seen, leaving a lasting imprint of brilliance and total recognition that he's playing a show for him and us.
It's these rock moments that separate Ben Harper from the rest of the modern pack. I've seen him sing a cappella and without the mic on "Where Could I Go." I've seen him play a three and a half hour set at The Music Box in Hollywood. And, now I've seen Relentless7 welcome us into the club in the most rock way possible.
By the way, my favorite R7 song right now is "Spanish Red Wine." This is what I said about the song when I first listened to it, before the show:
"'Spanish Red Wine' is a soundtrack song. It's mood music... right now. It'll sneak up on me and end up being one of my favs. Very needed on an album like this for balance and pace."
Well, it's my favorite, by far. And, I love the rest of the songs. This song just went from 'balance and pace' to the best... and it's all because of the live performance.
So good... So good.
Except for the guy who kept on screaming "Voodoo Chile" and "Burn One Down," the show couldn't have gone any better.
I don't want to write a review form post today. I just simply want to share that if you're not a fan of Ben Harper already, then fine. You're missing out on the best new music out there. There's a reason why I get to stand two feet away from the stage at every show. He's not mainstream. No complaints here.
At the end of the two-hour show, while finishing the second encore, with "Serve Your Soul" capping the night's performance, Ben Harper let his steel just rock back and forth on top of his Asher lap steel guitar. That rocking of the steel was the best outro to any concert I've ever seen, leaving a lasting imprint of brilliance and total recognition that he's playing a show for him and us.
It's these rock moments that separate Ben Harper from the rest of the modern pack. I've seen him sing a cappella and without the mic on "Where Could I Go." I've seen him play a three and a half hour set at The Music Box in Hollywood. And, now I've seen Relentless7 welcome us into the club in the most rock way possible.
By the way, my favorite R7 song right now is "Spanish Red Wine." This is what I said about the song when I first listened to it, before the show:
"'Spanish Red Wine' is a soundtrack song. It's mood music... right now. It'll sneak up on me and end up being one of my favs. Very needed on an album like this for balance and pace."
Well, it's my favorite, by far. And, I love the rest of the songs. This song just went from 'balance and pace' to the best... and it's all because of the live performance.
So good... So good.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
White Lies For Dark Times, Part II (Pre-Show)
It's been a little over a week since Ben Harper and Relentless7's debut album WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES hit the record shelves. This means I've listened to the CD around 30 times through, all in preparation for the May 16th Chicago show.
Music always changes the more you hear it. After the show, I'm sure I'll have new favorite songs and reasons to like others. In the last week or so, the music of Ben Harper and Relentless7 has graduated.
First of all, I'm biased. Ben Harper can pretty much put out any album with any 11 songs and I'll be a fan. But, I'm always critical because I have the greatest of expectations. WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES exceeded all of mine.
I call Ben Harper an artist because he keeps on improving and challenging himself. It would have been easy to stick with the Innocent Criminals (whose music I adore) and sell out mid-size venues. Part of me misses the ICs, but the wiser part of me appreciates the new music.
Like I said before, WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES is a rock album. And, it's good rock. It's not Daughtry. It's not Green Day. It's true rock 'n' roll, with attitude, conviction, a message and social and political overtones. It's the best rock album in the last five years.
Ben Harper's last album LIFELINE was his best album (before this one)... not necessarily the best single songs. But, as a whole, the songs blended together to make a listening experience. It's difficult not to listen to the entire album. WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES picked up where that album left off.
It's an experience. A rock experience. Ben Harper has always had this running theme of contradiction. He's black AND white... which makes him neither and both. He has songs called "Glory & Consequence" and "Pleasure and Pain," and he's had lyrics that reflect this contradiction, too.
In "Diamonds on the Inside," he sings "I knew a girl, her name was Truth, she was a horrible liar..." His songs are filled with these (intentional?) contradictions, much like life is. Much like BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN, WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES is another album title example of this.
This is his thesis and his alone. He owns this view on life and art, on work and music. No one that I know of does it, so no one does it better. Like I said, the whole album is brilliant, but here are the standouts to me right now:
#1) "Number With No Name" - "The very thing that drives you can drive you insane..." is a lyric in the chorus. This song is just a head-bobbing, killer song that has a great lap steel solo (best viewed/listened to live). The drums are hard and heavy on this one, too. It's a great way to start an album and a concert... even though I read that they are starting shows with a cover of Led Zepplin's "Good Times Bad Times." Does it get any better than this?
#4) "Lay There And Hate Me" - "Never trust a woman who loves the blues..." I won't Mr. Harper. This song is so funky and great. It's one of those songs like "Black Betty" where you feel like you're in a cool 70s movie or you're dealing mass quantities of drugs (like Johnny Depp in BLOW).
#7) "Fly One Time" - I want to be inspired. That's why I watch new movies (and old favorites) and listen to music. I want to find a piece of art from someone that acts as a bridge... something that shows me a sign that I'm not alone... that I'm not crazy... that there are people out there that have similar thoughts and feelings as I do... positive, strong, loving. This song is that. It's more than music. It's more than an anthem. This song was chosen on the Michael J. Fox ABC special last week about optimism. But, it's more than even that. It's truly flies.
I picked out these three songs because they are special in a next-level way. The others are fantastic and the album is dynamite, but these, right now, are songs I can hear and be transported by.
Two days to the big show at the Vic in Chi-Town. Next Thursday, I'll be back with the final WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES entry. This will be when the show has already sunk in. Whew...
Music always changes the more you hear it. After the show, I'm sure I'll have new favorite songs and reasons to like others. In the last week or so, the music of Ben Harper and Relentless7 has graduated.
First of all, I'm biased. Ben Harper can pretty much put out any album with any 11 songs and I'll be a fan. But, I'm always critical because I have the greatest of expectations. WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES exceeded all of mine.
I call Ben Harper an artist because he keeps on improving and challenging himself. It would have been easy to stick with the Innocent Criminals (whose music I adore) and sell out mid-size venues. Part of me misses the ICs, but the wiser part of me appreciates the new music.
Like I said before, WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES is a rock album. And, it's good rock. It's not Daughtry. It's not Green Day. It's true rock 'n' roll, with attitude, conviction, a message and social and political overtones. It's the best rock album in the last five years.
Ben Harper's last album LIFELINE was his best album (before this one)... not necessarily the best single songs. But, as a whole, the songs blended together to make a listening experience. It's difficult not to listen to the entire album. WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES picked up where that album left off.
It's an experience. A rock experience. Ben Harper has always had this running theme of contradiction. He's black AND white... which makes him neither and both. He has songs called "Glory & Consequence" and "Pleasure and Pain," and he's had lyrics that reflect this contradiction, too.
In "Diamonds on the Inside," he sings "I knew a girl, her name was Truth, she was a horrible liar..." His songs are filled with these (intentional?) contradictions, much like life is. Much like BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN, WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES is another album title example of this.
This is his thesis and his alone. He owns this view on life and art, on work and music. No one that I know of does it, so no one does it better. Like I said, the whole album is brilliant, but here are the standouts to me right now:
#1) "Number With No Name" - "The very thing that drives you can drive you insane..." is a lyric in the chorus. This song is just a head-bobbing, killer song that has a great lap steel solo (best viewed/listened to live). The drums are hard and heavy on this one, too. It's a great way to start an album and a concert... even though I read that they are starting shows with a cover of Led Zepplin's "Good Times Bad Times." Does it get any better than this?
#4) "Lay There And Hate Me" - "Never trust a woman who loves the blues..." I won't Mr. Harper. This song is so funky and great. It's one of those songs like "Black Betty" where you feel like you're in a cool 70s movie or you're dealing mass quantities of drugs (like Johnny Depp in BLOW).
#7) "Fly One Time" - I want to be inspired. That's why I watch new movies (and old favorites) and listen to music. I want to find a piece of art from someone that acts as a bridge... something that shows me a sign that I'm not alone... that I'm not crazy... that there are people out there that have similar thoughts and feelings as I do... positive, strong, loving. This song is that. It's more than music. It's more than an anthem. This song was chosen on the Michael J. Fox ABC special last week about optimism. But, it's more than even that. It's truly flies.
I picked out these three songs because they are special in a next-level way. The others are fantastic and the album is dynamite, but these, right now, are songs I can hear and be transported by.
Two days to the big show at the Vic in Chi-Town. Next Thursday, I'll be back with the final WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES entry. This will be when the show has already sunk in. Whew...
Thursday, May 7, 2009
White Lies For Dark Times
Ben Harper and Relentless7 realeased their debut album WHITE LIES FOR DARK TIMES on Tuesday.
Here's the playlist:
1) Number With No Name
2) Up To You Now
3) Shimmer and Shine
4) Lay There & Hate Me
5) Why Must You Always Dress In Black
6) Skin Thin
7) Fly One Time
8) Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)
9) Boots Like These
10) The Word Suicide
11) Faithfully Remain
And, if you were lucky enough to pre-order the album, you got these bonus songs:
- The Word Suicide (LIVE)
- Up To You Now (LIVE)
- Eldorado
- Spanish Red Wine
A little review...
"Number With No Name" is a 70s funk John Lennon type song fused with something off the BLACK SNAKE MOAN soundtrack (the only good thing about that movie). It's a perfect start to the album.
"Up To You Now" is a challenging political/social song in the vein of Bob Marley or Bob Dylan. And, it's got one of the best bridges ever, where, in the live version, Ben Harper soars with a vocal that's just pure heart.
"Shimmer and Shine" is the single, but Ben Harper really doesn't make singles. It's the song he played on Wednesday's David Letterman show. It's pure knock out rock.
"Lay There & Hate Me" is a 70s funk song that reminds me of Al Green meets The Doors "Five to One." Unbelievable.
"Why Must You Always Dress In Black" is Johnny Cash meets Mudcrutch. It's a power, blast off song that moves.
"Skin Thin" pulls it back a little, more of a light rock song, similar to Ben Harper's greats like "Amen Omen" and "She's Only Happy In The Sun." Beautiful.
""Fly One Time" is the most inspiring song of the year.
"Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)" is Jimi Hendrix in the best possible way. The guitar solo is amazing.
"Boots Like These" is a fun, party song.
"The Word Suicide" is one of those songs that hits you on so many levels and changes every time you hear it. Brilliant.
"Faithfully Remain" is another softer rock song that's perfect for the one you love.
"Eldorado" is an instrumental much like his previous "#3" and "Paris Sunset #7." He's just showing off at this point.
"Spanish Red Wine" is a soundtrack song. It's mood music... right now. It'll sneak up on me and end up being one of my favs. Very needed on an album like this for balance and pace.
I compare Ben Harper to these other greats like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and The Beatles not to say that he rips them off. No way. Not in a million years. He's in a category of his own. These other guys are just my other favorites, and it's what I have to pull from. It's what I know.
I think Ben Harper and Relentless7 is a natural progression from the great rock bands. Let's face it. Rock has gone downhill in the last ten years or so. Accept for the new releases by the bands above, there's not many new rock bands that are really great.
Then came Ben Harper. When he's playing with the Innocent Criminals, it's pure brilliance. But, when he plays with Relentless7, it's pure rock.
Run out as fast as you can and buy the new album. And, go to the shows. But, save me a space by the stage.
Here's the playlist:
1) Number With No Name
2) Up To You Now
3) Shimmer and Shine
4) Lay There & Hate Me
5) Why Must You Always Dress In Black
6) Skin Thin
7) Fly One Time
8) Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)
9) Boots Like These
10) The Word Suicide
11) Faithfully Remain
And, if you were lucky enough to pre-order the album, you got these bonus songs:
- The Word Suicide (LIVE)
- Up To You Now (LIVE)
- Eldorado
- Spanish Red Wine
A little review...
"Number With No Name" is a 70s funk John Lennon type song fused with something off the BLACK SNAKE MOAN soundtrack (the only good thing about that movie). It's a perfect start to the album.
"Up To You Now" is a challenging political/social song in the vein of Bob Marley or Bob Dylan. And, it's got one of the best bridges ever, where, in the live version, Ben Harper soars with a vocal that's just pure heart.
"Shimmer and Shine" is the single, but Ben Harper really doesn't make singles. It's the song he played on Wednesday's David Letterman show. It's pure knock out rock.
"Lay There & Hate Me" is a 70s funk song that reminds me of Al Green meets The Doors "Five to One." Unbelievable.
"Why Must You Always Dress In Black" is Johnny Cash meets Mudcrutch. It's a power, blast off song that moves.
"Skin Thin" pulls it back a little, more of a light rock song, similar to Ben Harper's greats like "Amen Omen" and "She's Only Happy In The Sun." Beautiful.
""Fly One Time" is the most inspiring song of the year.
"Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)" is Jimi Hendrix in the best possible way. The guitar solo is amazing.
"Boots Like These" is a fun, party song.
"The Word Suicide" is one of those songs that hits you on so many levels and changes every time you hear it. Brilliant.
"Faithfully Remain" is another softer rock song that's perfect for the one you love.
"Eldorado" is an instrumental much like his previous "#3" and "Paris Sunset #7." He's just showing off at this point.
"Spanish Red Wine" is a soundtrack song. It's mood music... right now. It'll sneak up on me and end up being one of my favs. Very needed on an album like this for balance and pace.
I compare Ben Harper to these other greats like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and The Beatles not to say that he rips them off. No way. Not in a million years. He's in a category of his own. These other guys are just my other favorites, and it's what I have to pull from. It's what I know.
I think Ben Harper and Relentless7 is a natural progression from the great rock bands. Let's face it. Rock has gone downhill in the last ten years or so. Accept for the new releases by the bands above, there's not many new rock bands that are really great.
Then came Ben Harper. When he's playing with the Innocent Criminals, it's pure brilliance. But, when he plays with Relentless7, it's pure rock.
Run out as fast as you can and buy the new album. And, go to the shows. But, save me a space by the stage.
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