Ben Harper - Live from Mars
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Free Music Notes for Live from Mars
Free Music Review: I already love this album
Hit: 5 Stars
For those who don't about know them, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals are going to be a pleasant surprise: their music has this incredibly big sound, but the material is very introspective and personal. Ben Harper as a musician is a study in contrast also: his vocals are kind of reminiscent of Cat Stevens if he was a gospel singer, and he plays these blistering licks and chords, completely without any showmanship at all, dictated by his lap-style playing.Live from Mars is a great title, and a great description. It's a two-record set of live recordings; seemingly recorded in a variety of venues and edited together. This gives the entire album a kind of weird disconnected feeling - the recordings are soundboard mixes that eliminate most of the crowd noise, but it actually serves the songs pretty well. The two discs have been organized to be Loud (disc one) and Quiet (disc two) - kind of splitting up the flow of a coherent performance. While this would be my only complaint, it does allow you to listen to an entire record of your preference, however.
Ben Harper's albums can be a little spotty because the variety of his playing: from bluegrass and zydeco-influenced, to wailing rock guitar, to funky covers of Motown. His live shows are incredible however, and with live recordings like Live From Mars, we'll never need a greatest hits record.
This album is a complete out-of-body experience, either Loud or Quiet. If you like great songwriting that has a great vibe and a great rhythm, or you just like artists that don't sound like anyone else, get this record.
Free Music Review: ELECTRIFYING!
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm a big fan of this brother who makes music that defies catergation and focuses on the song's atucal stucture which explains why his music is so powerful and so moving because this is a man who puts actual time,thought,and real emotion into his music.Ben's live set "Live From Mars" is just plain electrifying.
Every number just sucks you in and the songs just move...
From the fun,"ganja"-themed "Burn One Down" to the Rahzel-featured rendition of "Steal My Kisses" to the smoldering take on Marvin Gaye's perennial "Sexual Healing",
Ben goes all over the spectrum.Highlighting these numbers is Ben's soulful voice is suited for everything from R&B to honky tonk country to folk-all of which is known to flourish in his music.
All twenty-five songs are I stated before,electricfying!
One reason has to do with the diversity here.From a stirring rendition of "Whole Lotta Love" to the playful "Mama's Got A Girlfriend" to the intense acoustic styling of "Please Bleed":
there are no limits.
But if I had to pick my ultimate favorites on here I'd probably say that "Woman In You"-a song I love to death and the powerful
"I'll Rise/Like A King"-a socially concious medley on which Ben meditates-Tracy Chapman-style.This is my favorite.
Equally moving on the socially consious level is "Excuse Me Mr."
and the "Welcome To The Cruel World".
Man,I could go for days about Mr. Harper,but I'll close by saying that if you real want honest,structed,diverse music,Ben's the man.
Free Music Review: Incredible
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of those albums that makes you wish you could give it more than 5 stars because you suddenly feel guilty that you are only able to give it the same score you gave some other albums that aren't nearly as impressive.The first disc contains the louder electric numbers that bring back memories of dancin in a field with thousands of other fans last summer. Tracks like "Burn One Down", "Steal My Kisses", "Ground On Down", and the various covers are incredibly fun and upbeat and this album captures the excitement with which they are delivered live perfectly.
The second disc however, is the true gem of this release. There's something intensely emotional and personal about Ben's music, and this acoustic driven second disc encapsulates that to perfection. It's hard to pick favorites off this disc because so many of them are beautiful and moving. Tracks like "Waiting On An Angel", "Not Fire Not Ice", and "Walk Away" are some of the most powerful songs I've ever heard and should be shared with everyone.
This is an absolutely amazing album. While one half of it rocks you out and gets the groove goin, the second one chills you out completely and is like a warm blanket. This is a great starting point for any new Harper fans, and give a slight indication of how great his live shows are. If you get a chance, don't even consider not going to see him and the Innocent Criminals. It'll blow you away.
Free Music Review: This will be a Classic!
Hit: 5 Stars
I just bought this cd this morning and I can't stop listening to it already! This is the absolute best live album I have ever heard. The atmosphere from a Ben concert is hard to put into words, but by listening to these two cds you're almost there. Disc one is a mix of great live versions of the more upbeat songs, while disk two is the acoustic sets. This album includes awesome versions of all of the crowd favorites: "Ground on Down", a cover of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", and OF COURSE "Burn One Down", but the real winners are on Disk two- EVERY song either gives me chills or brings tears to my eyes (or both). This album's version of "In the Lord's Arms" is unbelievable and "Walk Away" (one of my all-time favorite Ben songs, and life-mottos) is amazing. Every song on this album is so heartfelt and real and strong- Ben is a TRUE musician... I don't like the way he is only associated with "Steal my Kisses" on the radio and MTV, but if it makes more people buy his albums to listen to everything else that he is and that he can do then I'm happy. If you've never heard Ben before other than "Steal my Kisses", definately buy this album- I promise you will be forever grateful, and if you're a Ben fan already- this cd embodies a Ben concert and what I feel Ben's music is all about and it will be a great addition to any cd collection!Free Music Review: Coming Through Beautifully
Hit: 5 Stars
I have only been a Ben Harper fan for a short time (I confess that the single "Steal My Kisses" was my first experience), but I am utterly amazed at what he has accomplished. I was a little skeptical about this album, though, since I have not seen him in concert. His albums are at times so quiet and introspective that I really didn't think that they would translate well into a live setting. I was dead wrong. His incredibly nimble guitar work is not muted by the live setting; it's enhanced. This album is a wonderful overview of the amalgamation of his entire catalog, with a few well-performed covers thrown in for good measure ("Sexual Healing" will turn you out). On the whole, I feel that the first disc is a better one, simply because it showcases the talents of all of the Innocent Criminals (the band) while not taking away from the nuances of Ben's messages. One track which surprised me was the stripped-down version of "Roses From My Friends." It's actually better than the album version; it carries more weight because Ben is pouring his soul out over just his guitar, rather than a full orchestra. If this album is even vaguely indicative of the power of Ben's nightly shows, I assure that I will not let the opportunity to see him pass me by again. The translation from studio to live-show is amazing. This is one performance that is not to be missed.