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
Welcome to the Cruel World,Ben Harper,Virgin Records,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop
Welcome to the Cruel World
Average customer rating: 
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Welcome to the Cruel World
Ben Harper Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Blues
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Adult Alternative
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Folk Rock
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Rock Jam Bands
| Jam Bands
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock Guitarists
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
ASIN: B000000W4U Release Date: 1994-02-08 |
Tracks:
- The Three Of Us
- Whipping Boy
- Breakin' Down
- Dont' Take That Attitude To Your Grave
- Waiting On An Angel
- Mama's Got A Girlfriend Now
- Forever
- Like A King
- Pleasure And Pain
- Walk Away
- How Many Miles Must We March
- Welcome To The Cruel World
- I'll Rise
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
Amazon.com
Ben Harper Photos
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More from Ben Harper
Fight for Your Mind |
Diamonds on the Inside |
Both Sides of the Gun |
Live From Mars |
The Will to Live |
Live at the Hollywood Bowl |
Customer Reviews:
Very Good 5/ out of 5 stars.......2007-05-13
Great songs!.......2006-09-28
Another Ben Harper..........2006-02-01
Ben Harper rocks!!.......2005-10-18
As with most of Harper's albums, he begins the album with his Instrumental style. The Three of Us, Harper's first track on the album combines all of the styles expressed within the album. The track begins soft rock and carries out in a more heavy rock tone. Other songs on the album like Walk Away and Forever are very similar in their soft rock nature. While How Many Miles Must We March and Welcome to the Cruel World show Harper's more hard rock style.
Harper is very successful in all of his albums especially "Welcome to the Cruel World" in providing listeners with a very ecletic mix of sound on one album. This album serves as a model for his following albums, "The Will to Live" and "Diamonds on the Inside", in the style and order of the tracks on the album. Overall this ablum is a must for any Harper fan.
Finally a social statement!!!.......2005-10-17
Just these four songs make the CD worth having. Not to mention all the other songs which are just as good.
I've been listening to this dude back and forth from work for over two weeks...don't be surprised if some of his songs make you grow an attitude.
This is music to think about, not just your old hum and tap routine. Kinda reminds me of how we wrote music back in the late 60's early 70's. Ben Harper is the MAN!!!
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Welcome to the Cruel World/Fight for Your Mind
Ben Harper Manufacturer: EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Singer-Songwriters
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Adult Alternative
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Rock Jam Bands
| Jam Bands
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Alternative Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B000B66OVW Release Date: 2005-10-11 |
Tracks:
- Three of Us
- Whipping Boy
- Breakin' Down
- Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave
- Waiting on an Angel
- Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now
- Forever
- Like a King
- Pleasure and Pain
- Walk Away
- How Many Miles Must We March
- Welcome to the Cruel World
- I'll Rise
Tracks:
- Oppression
- Ground on Down
- Another Lonely Day
- Please Me Like You Want To
- Gold to Me
- Burn One Down
- Excuse Me Mr.
- People Lead
- Fight for Your Mind
- Give a Man a Home
- By My Side
- Power of the Gospel
- God Fearing Man
- One Road to Freedom
Album Description
Import coupling of Ben's 1994 album Welcome To The Cruel World with Fight Your Mind (1995). Features the song's 'Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now', 'Pleasure and Pain', 'Give a Man a Home' and 'Excuse Me Mr.'. EMI. 2005.
Average customer rating:
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Welcome to the Cruel World/Fight for Your Mind
Ben Harper Manufacturer: Virgin ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Blues
| Styles
| Music
Singer-Songwriters
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Adult Alternative
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Rock Jam Bands
| Jam Bands
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B00004YMUK Release Date: 2000-11-06 |
Tracks:
- Three of Us
- Whipping Boy
- Breakin' Down
- Don't Take That Attitude to Your Grave
- Waiting on an Angel
- Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now
- Forever
- Like a King
- Pleasure and Pain
- Walk Away
- How Many Miles Must We March
- Welcome to the Cruel World
- I'll Rise
Tracks:
- Oppression
- Ground on Down
- Another Lonely Day
- Please Me Like You Want To
- Gold to Me
- Burn One Down
- Excuse Me Mr.
- People Lead
- Fight for Your Mind
- Give a Man a Home
- By My Side
- Power of the Gospel
- God Fearing Man
- One Road to Freedom
Average customer rating:
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Live from Mars/Welcome to a Cruel World
ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000A7KLES Release Date: 2005-09-20 |
Average customer rating:
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Welcome to the Cruel World
ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B0009OAUDE Release Date: 2006-03-14 |
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Welcome to the Cruel World/Live from Mars
Ben Harper Manufacturer: EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B000F1IPG0 Release Date: 2006-05-30 |
Tracks:
- Three Of Us
- Whipping Boy
- Breakin' Down
- Don't Take That Attitude To Your Grave
- Waiting On An Angel
- Mama's Got A Girlfriend Now
- Forever
- Like A King
- Pleasure & Pain
- Walk Away
- How Many Miles Must We March
- Welcome To The Cruel World
- I'll Rise
- Going To See The King
- Waiting On A Angel
- Roses From My Friend
- Power Of The Gospel
- Pleasure & Pain
- Please Bleed
- Drugs Don't Work
- In The Lord's Arms
- Not Fire, Not Ice
- Beloved One
- Number Three
- Walk Away
- Another Lonely Day
- Like A King/I'll Rise
- Glory & Consequence
- Excuse Me Mr
- Alone
- Sexual Healing
- Woman In You
- Ground On Down
- Steal My Kisses
- Burn One Down
- Mama's Got A Girlfriend Now
- Welcome To The Cruel World
- Forgiven
- Faded/Whole Lotta Love
- Like A King/I'll Rise (Live)
Album Description
Import coupling of Ben's 1994 album Welcome To The Cruel World with his live 2 CD set Live From Mars (2001). Virgin. 2006.Album Details
Double CD Box Set Package Comprising the Albums "Welcome to the Cruel World" Album and the "Live from Mars".Rap Music:
- Where Do We Go from Here [Enhanced]
- A Girl Called Eddy
- A Kiss in Time [Enhanced] [Live]
- Alanis Unplugged [Live]
- All-Time Quarterback [Enhanced]
- Ambulance LTD
- Anthology
- Anthology [Original recording remastered]
- Bang Bang Rock & Roll [Import]
- Bella Donna
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Dedicato a Giovanna G. [Import]