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Genre: Reggae/Funk/Neo-Soul
I love getting press packages from companies about artists, because you can usually tell how much they want to get behind someone by the number of items sent with an artists' name on it. I got pictures, press material, other reviews to sway my opinion and even bumper stickers advertising Ben Harper and his latest CD, Diamonds on the Inside.
It seemed like he was the next big thing and something about that made me think of the over hyped Norah Jones and I just didn't want to review what I thought would be a flash in the pan artist. But this time I have to admit when I am wrong -boy was I wrong!
Diamonds on the Inside is such a refreshing change of pace from the normal formula of popular music. From reggae to funk, bluegrass, soul, ska and even rock, Ben Harper infuses so many different genres into one positive CD with a little something for everyone.
I love the reggae sound of With My Own Two Hands that made me think a little of Bob Marley in terms of style. There is such a good feeling you get from listening to this track. I can make peace/with my own two hands/I can clean up the Earth/With my own two hands/I can reach out to you/with my own two hands/with my own/with my own two hands/I'm gonna make it a brighter place/I'm gonna make it a safer place/I'm gonna help the human race/with my own/with my own two hands.
I love the percussion in When It's Good. The song itself is a fun, infectious track with a much welcomed 80's old school sound of the title track, which proves this CD is not a one trick pony. Bring the Funk is good music to vibe to. So High, So Low is a very hard rock, blues-type song that made me think of working with my photographer at my day job and how he listened to blues all the time until I started enjoying the genre. This fits right in.
Also, Picture of Jesus is a very inspirational African song that shows the multifaceted side of Harper, which is even further displayed in Brown Eyed Peas, a nice, positive song that you can listen to with your girl. It's a very deep song with passionate lyrics that perfectly capture that romantic moment when you realize you are in love. I'm so mushy. If I know/being here with you today/would mean being alone tomorrow/I would gladly trade/all of my tomorrows away/for a moment with you. The delivery of this song a lot better, reading the lyrics doesn't do the song any justice. In fact, it doesn't really do any of the songs justice. This is a CD that has to be listened to and "heard" to be fully appreciated. This is one of those CDs that more than lives up to its hype.
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