Ben Harper

Harper's expansive vision as a rock songwriter blossomed with Both Sides of the Gun, and here he returns to join the band from those sessions with a new name, Relentless7. White Lies For Dark Times does a keen job of translating the blues elements of Harper's folk history with lots of tenacity, and his voice is every bit as commanding as the songwriting. Though certainly front-loaded, the opening trio -- "Number With No Name," "Up to You Now," and first single "Shimmer and Shine" -- are worth the price of admission.

These 13 songs by Ben Harper and his new backing band surround Harper's voice with a
revved-up racket — rippling blues-guitar leads, rumbling bass and busy, inventive beats
from drummer Jordan Richardson. The noise is welcome, but Harper can be a graceless
vocalist (check the screechy overemoting in "Boots Like These" and "Lay There & Hate Me"),
and his songs about crumbling relationships strain for significance amid pronoun... More >