Record Exchange Boise

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''Diamonds On the Inside'' (2003) is Ben Harper's first work without crediting the Innocent Criminals in almost 10 years, although all the touring members continue to support him on the album, with several additions. Shortly after going on tour to support this album, Marc Ford, formerly of The Black Crowes joined Harper's band. - Wikipedia

On his sixth album, Ben Harper rocks the boat—and rocks harder and witha more spiritual fervor than he's ever demonstrated before. Unrelentingly—andunapologetically—optimistic and forward-looking, Diamonds On the Inside,Harper's first studio album in nearly four years, cuts a wild stylisticswath that at once stirs together the sonic terrain he's explored since1994 and takes the singer, songwriter and virtuoso guitarist someplace new,simply by virtue of its scope. Promising that "I'm gonna make it abrighter place/ I'm gonna make it a safer place/ I'm gonna help theopening race," Harper starts in the realm of Bob Marley's consciousterrain on "With My Own Two Hands," spiced by his own guitar soloand organ swells by Greg Kurstin, a Beck and Flaming Lips cohort who has a strongpresence through Diamonds' 14 tracks. "When It's Good" isa rootsy rural blues shuffle, while the title track has the rustic lushnessof a vintage track by Bob Dylan or The Band as Harper tosses off sage nuggetssuch as "make sure the fortune that you seek is the fortune that you need."Harper and his cohorts work "Brown Eyed Blues" into a lengthy funkjam, take a neo-psychedelic course on "So High So Low" and "TouchFrom Your Lust," and steer towards electric blues for "Temporary Remedy."Harper's gospel leanings, meanwhile, reveal themselves to strong effecton "When She Believes," "Amen Omen" and particularly on"Picture of Jesus," an a capella hymn performed with Ladysmith BlackMambazo. It's a big, broad effort that only enhances the dynamic artistrythat's well established in Harper's oeuvre.