Both Sides Of The Gun
A hard touring troubadour, Ben Harper has brought his message of love and hope and his amalgamation of styles — folk, blues, R&B, reggae, soul, and even pop — to diverse audiences the world over. *Both Sides of the Gun* is an 18-song collection, deliberately divided into two separate moods. The first half is reflective, featuring somber ballads and dream-like instrumental passages (“Sweet Nothing Serenade”) where vibes and his slide acoustic-guitar playing loosely gaze the day away. Listen closely and you hear a man aching to connect with a peace he doesn’t find in the world. “Reason to Mourn” is shadowed by a sad-core orchestration and eventually the modest joy of a psychedelic guitar solo. For the second half, Harper turns on the electricity and his rage over the day’s current events — Hurricane Katrina, the war in Iraq — spills over from the lyrics (“Black Rain,” “Gather ‘Round the Stone”) to the impassioned playing that often recalls the soulful funk of Curtis Mayfield and the Rod Stewart-led Faces in their rag-tag glory (“Engraved Invitation”). Harper’s sense of adventurism serves him well.
Check out our album review of Artist's Both Sides Of The Gun on Rolling Stone.com.
AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own.
Ambition alone doesn’t make the kind of statement that the album’s scope and structure demands.