Ben Harper

“Both Sides of the Gun”

Grade: A-

Ben Harper, who first began recording in 1992 and has been a consistent member of the music world ever since, has jumped back into the music scene with his new two-disc album “Both Sides of the Gun.”

Harper starts right in with his soulful and steady voice, expressing his beliefs and ideas through song with the first track on disc one, “Better Way,” where he matter-of-factly sings, “Reality is sharp/It cuts me like a knife/Everyone I know/Is in the fight of their life/I believe in a better way.” This track is a suitable choice to start off the first disc of the album, which is filled with Harper’s grim yet realist views on the world and country’s current situations.

In the song that shares the same title as the album, Harper says, “Living these days is making me nervous” and later “We don’t know quite what this is/Other than a war that can’t be won/Tension/Too much to mention/Living on both sides of the gun.”

Harper’s displeasure is prominently with the war in Iraq, and also with the U.S. government, wherein the song “Black Rain,” Harper says, “You left them swimming for their lives/Down in New Orleans” and “This government business/Is straight up sadistic.”

Whether one agrees or disagrees with Harper’s strong political views, his songs are thought-provoking and the music itself is catchy.

While not the type of music you would dance to, very few tracks are slow on disc one. At some points Harper’s voice gets strained, as if he’d rather be yelling his lyrics than singing them.

The second disc starts off very somber, and focuses less on political issues and more on subjects personal to Harper, even getting a little sappy with lyrics such as, “Your love’s the warmest place/The sun ever shines” in “Morning Yearning.”

The instrumental track, “Sweet Nothing Serenade,” is just as its title describes it, featuring Harper’s talents on the Weissenborn guitar. Harper finishes the second disc nicely, singing, “All that I can give you/Is forever yours to keep/Wake up every day with a dream/And happy ever after in your eyes” in the aptly named, “Happy Everafter in Your Eyes.”

The second disc is a mellow, needed contrast to the bitter and stern theme of the first. While his lyrics are not always profound when looked at individually, together they create enjoyable songs that carry a sound most try to capture but few succeed at making.

Overall, Harper’s songs encompass enough variety to please a wide audience, and his talent shines through on each track. Harper is far and away on another level with his topics of choice than pop music of the day, and his type of music is what is still needed in order for people to continue to really think about the world around them.

— Sarah Broach, Managing Editor