Paris Sunrise #7 [Instrumental] - Ben Harper, Harper, Ben [1]
Lifeline - Ben Harper, Harper, Ben [1]
Limited Edition, 180-gram Vinyl, audiophile quality pressing of Ben Harper's Lifeline. This special vinyl edition is in gatefold packaging, and comes in a paper sleeve with printed labels. At the end of a nine month Euro... more »pean tour, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals landed in a Paris recording studio and completed their new album, Lifeline, in just seven days. The result: a soulful masterpiece with beautifully direct lyrics, undeniable grooves and an effortless energy that recalls the best works of Otis Redding, Bill Withers and Beggars Banquet-era Rolling Stones. Yeah...it's that good. It's no surprise that most bands today don't record albums live, straight to tape, in one room, no Pro Tools, no auto-tune. There are only a handful of modern artists that can pull it off. Since Ben & The Innocent Criminals were so musically connected after such a long tour, they entered the studio immediately. And on a sixteen track tape machine and one full week in the City of Lights, they successfully recorded and mixed an album that will sit alongside all of your old favorites...just like a classic record should. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.« less
Limited Edition, 180-gram Vinyl, audiophile quality pressing of Ben Harper's Lifeline. This special vinyl edition is in gatefold packaging, and comes in a paper sleeve with printed labels. At the end of a nine month European tour, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals landed in a Paris recording studio and completed their new album, Lifeline, in just seven days. The result: a soulful masterpiece with beautifully direct lyrics, undeniable grooves and an effortless energy that recalls the best works of Otis Redding, Bill Withers and Beggars Banquet-era Rolling Stones. Yeah...it's that good. It's no surprise that most bands today don't record albums live, straight to tape, in one room, no Pro Tools, no auto-tune. There are only a handful of modern artists that can pull it off. Since Ben & The Innocent Criminals were so musically connected after such a long tour, they entered the studio immediately. And on a sixteen track tape machine and one full week in the City of Lights, they successfully recorded and mixed an album that will sit alongside all of your old favorites...just like a classic record should. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
CD Reviews
Different but great
Olah Imre Peter | Hungary | 08/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is different to other BH-releases in many ways. First of all the genesis of this record was very different than on previous ones. The album was recorded at a long tour about to end in Paris and it was done with all members of the Innocent Criminals putting in their own input in many ways. Then there's the way how it was recorded: in one week on full-analogue vintage equipment. Oh yes, and it was recorded in Paris, France.
The other difference to Ben Harper's earlier albums is that there's not great variation of different styles. This is an acoustic-soul album, like the band already had said. The songs are great in my opinion and the band plays really tight and groovy and Ben's singing is better and more powerful than ever before.
The record is very coherent and really works as an album. It's a pleasure to listen to it from the beginning to the end.
I know that this isn't what a number of fans were expecting but I think that this is a great piece of music and am glad that Ben Harper always does something which is a bit different than things's he has done before.
Oh, and I'm really jealous of the american people that have the opportunity to attend the shows of the Lifeline-tour this fall in the US.
Buy this album, it's really great!"
Advice from distant Italy: Buy it!
GiGi | Italy | 09/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ben Harper is relatively more famous here on Italy than on USA, I saw him play live for the first time on a small club on 1995 when he was unknow.
One of the most emotional concert of my life.
I saw him live last time at the end of 2006 during the european tour, few months before recording this wonderful CD.
I like almost every B.H. CDs, but I love way more is live performance ant this album reflect all the intensity of the long tour just done.
On the first concert was his guitar skill to stand, on the last was his voice...
...I will never forget when while performing "Where Could I Go" (from the CD with "Blind Boys of Alabama") he just make the (great) band to stop playing
and resume singin' alone outside of the mic, no amplification, only pure emotion!
This is the feeling you can find on this piece of art.
So (if you love this kind of music) buy it!
And if you can, GO to see one of his live concert..."
This one could be it
R. Kyle | USA | 09/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It baffles me why Ben Harper doesn't receive more accolades than he does. He's one of the best singer-songwriters around. His performances are like vintage soul with new themes added to a timeless groove.
"Lifeline" could be it--the CD that actually gets him those awards. Til then, psst--you can say you liked Ben Harper early.
Harper often traverses the whole emotional gamut in his music and "Lifeline" is no different. His opener, "Fight Outta You" could be a father's advice, a commencement speech, or just a pick-me-up on a bad day:
it will be in your honor
'til you're not needed any longer
don't believe the headlines
check it for yourself sometimes
the lies you live become you
the love you lose it numbs you
they say that you've arrived
that's just a high class bribe
don't let them take the fight
outta you
"In the Colors" is the hit from this CD if KGSR-Austin's playlist is any indication. It's another song that offers hope to the hopeless:
when you again start hoping
with your arms wide open
dance with me into the colors
of the dusk
If you're a fool for train songs like I am, you're going to love "Fool For a Lonesome Train." You can almost hear the whistle in the rain.
Several songs deal with lost love, including "Younger than Today."
"Lifeline" has something for just about every mood and I can honestly say that most of the tracks stand out in one way or another. It's very hard for me to believe that Harper and the Innocent Criminals managed to record this CD in 7 days in Paris, but if anyone could, this talented group is the one!"
Better than last year's "Both Sides of the Gun"
Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 10/20/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals have not been slacking lately: last year they released the double-CD "Both Sides of the Gun" album, followed by a long world tour. At the end of the European leg of that tour in November 2006, the band holed up in a Paris studio and recorded this album in just a matter of one week (not sure why it then took another 10 months or so before the actual release).
"Lifeline" (11 tracks; 41 min.) brings yet another facet of Ben Harper, this time the relaxed singer-songwriter. This becomes immediately clear on the opener "Fight Outta You". Combining folk, soud and country rock, the band brings a more focused effort than on many of its previous studio albums. "Fool for a Lonesome Train" is similar in tempo and atmosphere to "Fight Outta You". "Say You Will" brings a livelier sound, with glimpses of gospel even, and as such stands apart from the mostly introvert sound of the album. The title track closes the album, and is mostly Ben and acoustic guitar, nothing more, nothing less, a great way to finish up the album.
I rate this album 4 stars because it improves over last year's "Both Sides of the Gun" album, which simply was all over the place (and would have been much stronger had it been whittled down to a single CD). That said, I still have not heard the 'perfect' Ben Harper studio album, as his live shows surpass anything he's done in the studio."
Not that interesting
CD- | austin | 10/06/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"this is same old mediocre stuff Ben has been putting out since around Burn to Shine....its too bad too, I used to get really inspired by his music too.
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1