BEN HARPER & THE INNOCENT CRIMINALS

Live from Mars
(Virgin)

Ben Harper has accomplished what many musicians aspire to: establish a large, strong and loyal following through minimal radio airplay, minimal MTV exposure and hardly any fanfare and using the best means possible: touring.

His past albums Welcome to the Cruel World, Fight For Your Mind, and Burn To Shine have all been critically acclaimed and loved by his fans. They have also earned him the opportunity to open for rock’s elite, from Metallica and Pearl Jam to John Lee Hooker as his ever-growing fan base adores his music with passion and reverence.

Now, his new album of live performances, Live From Mars, exposes this man¹s talent at the peak of his musical productivity. Disc one, which features a full electric set, opens with ³Glory & Consequence,² with Harper laying down the rhythm as The Innocent Criminals pour fuel into the fire. The audiences’ reaction here sets the tone for the whole album. "Excuse Me Mr.," "Alone" and "Woman In You" are performed with such intensity that even these laid-back songs are able to emotionally move an entire arena. His soulful execution of Marvin Gaye’s "Sexual Healing" uncovers Harper¹s superb vocal talents as the song gives off the same passionate tenderness that it is known for - in other words, sex! sex! sex!

The confessional "Ground On Down" showcases the front man’s power on the slide guitar as he belts out unfeigned lyrics straight from the bottom of his heart: "I’d hate to say I love you / coz it means that I will be with you forever / or will sadly say goodbye / and I’d love to say I hate you / coz it means that I can live my life happily without you / or will sadly live a lie." Toward the end of part one, the band lays down the rock on "Forgiven" and "Faded," adding on a portion of Led Zeppelin’s "Whole Lotta Love" for good measure.

Disc two unfurls the softer side of Ben Harper’s music, featuring him going solo on acoustic guitar in smaller venues. The aura of part two is definitely more laid-back than the arena rock segment, but the depth of these songs are as soul wrenching as their resounding counterparts. Songs such as "In the Lord’s Arms," "Beloved One," "Roses From My Friends" and "Power of the Gospel" are examples of Harper’s best work.

Ever willing to lay his personal feelings on the table, Harper says that some of his best lyrics come out on the chorus of "Please Bleed": "Please bleed so I know that you are real / so I know that you can feel the damage that you’ve done." The album concludes with the politically charged verses of "Like A King" and "I’ll Rise." Ben Harper is truly great artist, giving "real" music the push that it needs, and Live From Mars is another testament to that awesome talent.