On May 17th, Virgin Records will release Give Till It's Gone , Ben Harper's 10th studio album. With "Rock N' Roll Is Free," the album's first single, Harper pays tribute to an audacious art form that continually challenges the status quo, demanding that we look at the world in "a brand new way." The song was inspired by rock legend Neil Young, whom Harper opened for in London last summer. Young's mesmerizing performance of "Rockin' in the Free World" planted the seeds of a new song in Harper's mind, compelling him to go straight back to his room after the show and write "Rock N' Roll Is Free." The incident is emblematic of the kind of urgency with which the new album was forged. Harper recorded most of Give Till It's Gone - his first solo record since 2006's Both Sides of the Gun - at the Los Angeles studio of Jackson Browne, who harmonizes with him on the wistful "Pray That Our Love Sees The Dawn." The album also features two tracks co-written with Ringo Starr - the exuberant, psychedelic-tinged "Spilling Faith" and "Get There From Here," an improvisational instrumental. Starr, who also plays drums on the songs, tapped Harper for his 2010 album, Y Not. "I've never made a record that was such a timeline," says Harper. "It's a real extension of the last year and half in my life, and all these sounds are inspired by my experiences. It's as honest a musical statement as I could make." With Give Till It's Gone, Harper examines the disparity between the man he is today and the man he endeavors to become. Reaching deep within, he discovers there are no easy answers, but implores us to go the distance with him on this journey in the moving album opener, "Don't Give Up On Me Now." While its songs are highly personal, Give Till It's Gone illuminates the universal struggle to find meaning and fully engage with life and one another. We may pass through a dark night of the soul, but giving up is not a viable option, as Harper reminds us with certainty in the transcendent "I Will Not Be Broken." Harper made his debut in 1994 with Welcome to the Cruel World, which was subsequently certified Gold. In 2005, he received GRAMMY awards for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance" for his single "11th Commandment" and for "Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album" for There Will Be A Light, featuring the Blind Boys of Alabama. His three most recent studio albums - Both Sides of the Gun (2006), Lifeline (2007) and White Lies for Dark Times (2009) - debuted in the Top 10 of The Billboard 200. Harper formed Fistful of Mercy with Dhani Harrison and Joseph Arthur and the trio released the album As I Call You Down in 2010.
J**2
Potential Finally Fulfilled
I saw Harper live at the time of the release of his first album Welcome to the Cruel World . He and his band produced one of the best performances I have ever seen of any band - they rocked, grooved and the whole crowd danced. I ran out and bought that album only to discover a set of quiet acoustic songs that were quite different from the live experience. I have followed Harper's career since, each time hoping the next new album would match the intensity of his live performances, only to be disappointed. Until now!This album is amazing. It is like Harper has been set free. There is a power and a joy to these songs, and there is a lot of emotion being spilled here. It is obvious he and his band are having fun spilling it. Certainly there is a retro feel to many of the tracks, with echos of Cream, Phish, Hendrix amongst others, but tracks like Spilling Faith, Do It For You and Get There From Here show Harper's real brilliance. Try to keep your feet still to Rock N'Roll Is Free.This album is destined for three stars, not because it is mediocre but because it will be polarizing. If you loved Harper's previous albums this is certainly a departure, and likely will result in poor reviews. If you have experienced his live shows, and puzzled why they didn't translate to disc, check this out. Potential finally fulfilled indeed. I can't wait to see this live.
J**9
Good album
Ben Harper never seems to disappoint. He always has solid albums. I think next I'm going to get his album with Charlie Musslewhite. I'm not saying it's his best album but is a good solid album.
C**N
Super duper Nice!!
Beautiful album if you like Ben Harper. The record comes in a white sleeve and there is an extra one with Band and songs information. No lyrics. Very cool design :)
S**Z
Five Stars
great
T**S
I love it
I accidentally found him through researching a jingle I heard on a television commercial. After looking him up on you tube I just had to buy a couple of his cd's. Check this guy out,you won't regret it.
P**T
Nice, I give it 4 and 1/2 stars!
I like this cd. This is a somewhat different direction for ben, but this cd really rocks! Some people are put off by it, calling it noisy, but this is just good, bare bones rock.I think it is worth a try if you are a ben harper fan.
K**E
Masterpiece!
sounds great! This is the best new album that he put out! I love the energy and sounds awesome on vinyl!
A**S
Awesome
I really enjoy this album. The music is both beautiful and makes one want to dance. What's not to love about Ben Harper?
A**S
Ben Harper is still making good albums and writing a few great songs
Ben Harper has been very busy recording music since his debut album "Welcome To The Cruel World" was released back in 1994. 17 years later, "Give Till It's Gone" is his tenth studio album and, although it is a very consistent and solid affair, it does sometimes feel as though I have heard it all before and there are only a few stand out tracks.The opener "Don't Give Up On Me Now" is a good mid-tempo folk rock song, but is a little sleepy. "Rock N' Roll Is Free" is a punchy rock track, but is a little predictable. "Feel Love" is a pleasant enough rock ballad. "Spilling Faith" and "Get There From Here" are simplistic but very catchy and effective pop rock tunes, although he has done this style of music time and time again. "Waiting On A Sign" is a cool bluesy track and "Dirty Little Lover" is a faster paced stomping blues tune. The final track "Do It For You, Do It For Us" has sleepy verses but a strong rock chorus.However, there are some surprisingly great tracks on this release. "I Will Not Be Broken" is a really great track with a strong melody and a fantastic guitar solo. "Clearly Severely" is quite different to what he has released previously and is much heavier and more chaotic, resulting in quite an interesting track. "Pray That Our Love Sees The Dawn" is a very beautifully written subtle mid-tempo song with some lovely original arrangements.If you are an avid Ben Harper fan, then I would purchase this as it is just as solid as his previous releases. But to a new listener, I would recommend some of his earlier work such as "The Will To Live" or "Burn To Shine" which are just a little more varied and exciting. Nevertheless and regardless of my criticism, Ben Harper gets another 4 star rating.
R**E
Harpers Bizzare
P&P excellent anything Mr Harper does is fine by me a man of many talents this was bought for a friend as she likes his work with Alabama 3 and also The Blind Boys of Alabama groovy.
D**Y
Ben Harper give till it's gone
Another good album from Ben Harper
D**5
Five Stars
All OK
T**N
Five Stars
Super Vinyl
C**N
Ben Harper; Give Till It's Gone
I absolutely love Ben Harper & his music. Having said that I have to say that this CD for me was just Okay. There weres some songs that I liked alot such as "Don't Give Up On Me Now" which is lyrically compelling for sure."Feel Love" is to me the best song on the CD; beautifully written and sung as well the arrangment is gorgeous. This song is what acoustic lovers of Ben Harper will love...he makes you fall in love with him on this song!"I Will Not Be Broken" is a hauntingly addictive song; so reminiscent of Ben Harper's best songs written. It is as good as the song "Like A King/I'll Rise (on Live From Mars CD) except this song is not as quiet; it has rock intermixed in with it in the middle of the song. However, the intent lyrically of the song is pure genius and comes obviously from the heart and will pull at your heartstrings when you listen to it.Anyway check this CD out...it does have some gems; so I don't feel like it was a waste to buy even though I only put 4 or 5 songs onto my MP3 player...lets just say it's Ben Harper at 80% vs. his usual 110%!
F**
Cd che volevo
Primo acquisto su Amazon e mi sono trovato molto bene. il cd é fantastico l'unica pecca é la copertina di cartone che odio
M**O
not bad
non è il suo album migliore ma si fa ascoltare molto bene. alcune delle canzoni dell'album sono coinvolgenti altre un po meno. vale comunque la pena acquistarlo visto il prezzo relativamente basso per un vinile
A**A
Bravo Ben!
Credo che questo sia un disco molto bello per chi ama il rock ed una grande conferma dello stile creativo di Ben Harper. Sa trovare sempre spunti originali e qui ci sono pezzi a volte travolgenti. Mi piace molto la sonorità graffiante e low-fi di alcune canzoni. Non mancate di ascoltarlo.
P**O
non delude
per gli amanti del genere, non delude le aspettativelo trovo un sound essenziale, si ascolta di pancia più che di testa
M**B
mmmh
bello,ma non mi entuasiamail singolo è molto bello, ma sembra un disco fatto un pò di frettacomunque, se hai la discografia, vale la pena tenerla aggiornata ;)
A**O
Ben Harper
Arrivato molto velocemente, impacchettAtto molto bene, il disco di ben harper è un buon lavoro, anche se non è con laformazione originale!Lo consiglio
C**N
Très bien
Très bien
C**A
Don't give up on me now!
La n.1 è tra le 10 migliori canzoni di Harper di sempre... belli altri 3 pezzi, il resto non mi ha fatto impazzire
A**R
Five Stars
great product
Trustpilot
1 week ago
3 days ago
