What people search:
 | Title : Diamonds on the Inside
Author : Harper, Ben
Release Date : 20030311
Binding : Audio CD
Regular Price : $17.98
Amazon.com Price : $13.49
(25
%)
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Editorial Reviews :
Ben Harper makes elegant leaps from reggae to rock to folk to funk and back in his fifth studio album. The rootsy singer-songwriter with the silken tenor isn't merely genuflecting at the altar of his musical heroes, as here he shows more quirky imagination and inventive musicianship than on any of his earlier efforts. That said, 'Diamonds on the Inside' is painted with the same brush that Bob Dylan used on 'I Shall Be Released,' but Harper adds his own Biblical aphorisms to make the song his own. Most of the songs display Harper's growth as a poet, as he ponders the dualities of life and love in tunes like the disturbing 'Touch from Your Lust' and the disquietingly lyrical 'Amen Omen.' Harper is compelled to sing what is in his heart and to do what he can to make the world a better place. Witness the Marley-like 'With My Own Two Hands.' The only misstep on the whole disc is the overly humid orchestration of 'When She Believes.' --Jaan Uhelszki
Buyer Reviews :
The amazon.com reviewer was fairly dead on. This album is ridiculously diverse, but still sounds like Ben Harper. And in an era when bands like Creed and Nickleback are releasing the same albums of glugging 4-chord, minor-keyed, talentless Pearl Jam covers it is quite refreshing to hear an album as diverse as this one.
Kicking things off with the upbeat reggae of 'With My Own Two Hands' the album provides a totally new feel. While it may not be his best lyrical work the song is fun, and has a good, if somewhat cliched, message. Thumping bass drum and slide guitar blues harken back to Ben's roots in 'When It's Good'. The title track is an acoustic rocker with a bluesy country feel that is one of the most solid tunes on the album. With 'Touch from Your Lust' Ben really hits his stride on both musical and lyrical fronts as this tune proves to be the real diamond in the rough here. 'When She Believes' is an accordian-drenched, lilting tune that is perhaps a little too lush on this disc. It's one of the tunes you'd like to hear stripped down to Ben's voice and an acoustic guitar, but we'll have to wait for that. 'Brown Eyed Blues' is the better of the two funk charts on the album, neither of which are truely remarkable, but both of which provide a nice change of pace. 'Bring The Funk' however lacks either lyrical prowess or energy depending on how you look at it, though its still a good tune. 'Amen Omen' is another more traditional Ben Harper tune featuring a lot of acoustic guitar, and great lyrics. 'Temporary Remedy' and 'So High So Low' both show off the power Ben packed into his last studio album 'Burn To Shine', with the latter opening with a quiet acoustic guitar interlude before blasting power chords with Ben's screaming vocals. The Innocent Criminals, and in particular the percussion section take center stage (Juan Nelson already having proven his worth on bass in the funk section) for the two African-tinged tunes 'Blessed to be a Witness' and 'Picture of Jesus'. The spirituality in the lyrics adds to it, and the music is just so diverse that it really is nice to hear. The album closes with 'She's Only Happy in the Sun' an acoustic masterpiece showcasing Ben's beautiful voice and pensive lyric writing ability.
All in all this is one of the most diverse albums you could ever hope to own, reading more like a library of tracks rather than an album by one artist. Yet it still maintains some semblance of cohesion, and what it lacks in that department it makes up for in the talent and breadth of Harper's songwriting skills. Surprisingly the lack of his acoustic slide guitar prowess is not even missed, but with this repetoire of material, how could you?
(by Gloria Braun Jackson)
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