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Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
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Track Listings
| 1. The Three Of Us |
| 2. Whipping Boy |
| 3. Breakin' Down |
| 4. Don't Take That Attitude To Your Grave |
| 5. Waiting On An Angel |
| 6. Mama's Got A Girlfriend Now |
| 7. Forever |
| 8. Like A King |
| 9. Pleasure And Pain |
| 10. Walk Away |
| 11. How Many Miles Must We March |
| 12. Welcome To The Cruel World |
| 13. I'll Rise |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
Ben Harper sounds good on paper. He's a 24-year-old Californian devoted to vintage acoustic guitars, original political songs and the unusual blend of calypso and Mississippi Delta blues--an inspired blend of David Lindley, Tracy Chapman, and Taj Mahal. Unfortunately, Harper's execution of this original conception on his debut album, "Welcome to the Cruel World," is distinctly underwhelming.
Harper's singing is the biggest problem. He mumbles his vocals with so little articulation and within such a narrow range that he makes Bob Dylan sound like Al Green by comparison. Moreover, Harper's overall performance is so low in energy that he makes the laid-back Cowboy Junkies sound like the Sex Pistols. His songwriting and guitar picking reveals hints of a modest talent, but they aren't nearly special enough to compensate for the narcotic effect of his singing. The heavy-handed Rodney King song, the adaptation of a Maya Angelou poem and the broken-hearted love songs are more likely to recall Chapman's disappointing second album rather than her exhilarating first. --Geoffrey Himes
Chronique amazon.fr
Bien qu'adoptant un style (le blues) largement familier au public, Ben Harper fit en sorte dès ce premier album de l'aborder avec une fraîcheur et une inventivité bouleversante. De telle sorte que très vite, cette musique balisée devint entre ses doigts un hybride, évoluant vers des genres étrangers. Ben Harper fonde Welcome To The Cruel World sur un travail remarquable à la guitare slide, qu'il va soutenir d'une voix capable de métamorphoses étonnantes, un peu à la manière d'Aaron Neville ("Breakin'Down") en montant dans les aigus pour mieux jouer du vibrato. Cette guitare, un dobro ou une Weissenborn, investit l'espace sonore en compagnie de percussions caractéristiques, ceci pour habiller les chansons de révolte de cet artiste en colère, à la frontière de l'imprécation mystique. Harper est capable d'une déroutante versatilité, au détour d'un thème sobre ("Waiting On An Angel") il va se montrer bouleversant de proximité, l'instant d'après il capte une rythmique entre cajun et reggae. Ainsi, au fil des titres, l'album s'avère d'une grande richesse. Il signalait un artiste doté d'un potentiel considérable. La chose fut vérifiée par la suite. --José Ruiz
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
an exceptional debut album
Feb 26 2004
Format:Audio CD
I can't agree w/the negative reviews of this album (including the one Amazon.com editorial reviewer, Geoffrey Hines, put forward). On the whole, it might be a bit simplistic, slow, and quiet, especially in light of his later work, but it's meant to be that way, and I find it enjoyable. "Whipping Boy" and "Breakin' Down" are some of his best songs. He addresses sociopolitical issues in "Like A King" and "How Many Miles Must We March" and softly sings of friendship in "Forever" and "Walk Away" while adopting a religious attitude in "Waiting On An Angel," "Don't Take That Attitude To Your Grave," and "I'll Rise." Besides, I can't dislike an artist who supports the Green Party and saving the environment and opposes hyposcrisy, corporate greed, and cultural, racial, and religious intolerance while throughout his career expressing these concerns with such amazing sensitivity and passion. As usual, Harper exhibits a wisdom beyond his years as one of the greatest musical artists of his time.
Welcome to a Dull Album
Feb 15 2004
Format:Audio CD
This is, without a doubt, one of the most boring, empty and souless records I have ever heard. Ben Harper is an artist capable of decent and interesting compositions, but this debut isn`t really promising at all. This album is lifeless, flat and instantly forgettable, and there isn`t a single worthwile moment to register here.
Harper`s acoustic, laid back and mellow songs make him seem like a male version of Tracy Chapman, but pherhaps even more insipid an uninteresting. Listening to the entire record at once is a task, frankly, and creates a heavy sleep-enducing process due to its bland and sometimes melodramatic songs. All of them are filler, nothing stands out as mildly engaging and captivating.
A snoozer.
Harper`s acoustic, laid back and mellow songs make him seem like a male version of Tracy Chapman, but pherhaps even more insipid an uninteresting. Listening to the entire record at once is a task, frankly, and creates a heavy sleep-enducing process due to its bland and sometimes melodramatic songs. All of them are filler, nothing stands out as mildly engaging and captivating.
A snoozer.
Geoffrey Himes must have been on narcotics...
Feb 12 2004
Format:Audio CD
...Rather than affected by the narcotic effect of Harpers voice. I can't help remembering a clip of criticism about Zeppelin in the 60's where a writer wrote, "...how does a no name band like this get a garage album recorded anyway"
Ummm, yeah, the wisdom of that critique is quite close to the insight of the Himes review.
This CD is one of the most touching and acoustically soulful I've heard in years. What's found here led and kept me a fan of Harpers to begin with, and years later the CD's subtlety's still touch deepest parts of Harpers talent.
Soft, sultry, soulful, sweet, oh yes and honestly under produced (thank God!) are words that well describe this set of songs, leaving the listener looking for more, and loving the sound of voice and guitar.
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Most recent customer reviews
Sign of Amazing Stuff to Develop
Ben Harper is definetely the most underrated musician in the mainstream music scene. This album is proof of his deep background in blues, rock, and folk music. Read more
Published on Sep 23 2003 by Adam J. Whittemore
mr hines better stick to ketchup...
to say that ben harper lacks guitar skills is out of the question. he is an amazing slide/blues guitarist (i am a guitarist as well so i speak with empathy). Read more
Published on Aug 24 2003 by santa barbara fan
WOW
I bought this cd after listening to and eventually buying "diamonds on the inside" and " burn to shine. Read more
Published on Jun 18 2003
Best Ever
This cd is pack with more words meaning and feeling then most people can say in a lifetime. It is in my opinion the best cd of my life time. It just doesn't get any better.
Published on Jan 6 2003 by "kskoglund2"
Welcome to the wonderful world of Ben Harper !!!
"Welcome to the cruel world" was Ben's first release in 1994 and is still, for me, his best recording. More than a very talented musician, Harper is an incridible songwriter. Read more
Published on Nov 9 2002 by Damien De Polignac
So much depth!
Ben Harper is one of the most amazing songwriter/musicians of the last 15 years. The difference between Ben Harper, and some other musicians, is that his music is written from the... Read more
Published on July 31 2002 by lala
MY BROTHER LOVES THIS GUY...
See,I'm more of a hip hop cat.Don't get me wrong,I like rock and trip hop and the like but it's aquired taste music. Read more
Published on July 17 2002 by Julian Mosley
Ben sounds good on more than just paper!!!!
What was the person who wrote the editorial review thinking? Ben harper is one of the most amazing and talented artists around today and "welcome to the cruel world" is both one... Read more
Published on May 29 2002 by Liz
What's his face the reviewer has no taste
I dont see how it's possible to dislike Ben Harper. He's talented (his music, his voice), smart, original and very cool. Read more
Published on Mar 2 2002 by Natalie Pellolio
Beautiful but crunchy music
This artist seems to combine all the styles and elements of music that appeal to me. Nevertheless, he blends them into an organic whole that is greater than the sum of the... Read more
Published on Feb 20 2002
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