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.
