| | Ben Harper Welcome To The Cruel World CD Ben Harper Discography of CDs
 (3 Customer Reviews)
Available with FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND and THE WILL TO LIVE in THE BEN HARPER BOX SET.
The aggressive, powerhouse sound singer/songwriter Ben Harper would introduce with his band the Innocent Criminals on 1998's THE WILL TO LIVE is not present on the artist's debut, WELCOME TO THE CRUEL WORLD. Instead, this '94 album shines a spotlight on Harper's acoustic guitar, plaintive voice, and soulful folk songs. Harper's intensity as a performer is clear from the opening guitar instrumental "The Three of Us" (which commands attention with its subtle, simple repetitions) to "I'll Rise," a gospel-inflected interpretation of Maya Angelou's poem "And Still I Rise."
Sonically, the record is of a piece, with understated dynamics and an emphasis on intimate, acoustic, bluesy folk-rock. But Harper impresses most with his penchant for incorporating a range of stylistic influences, such as the late-'60s reggae cast of "Breakin' Down" and the Cajun-country romp of "Mama's Got a Girlfriend Now." Moreover, Harper strikes an admirable balance between songs that address issues of social injustice ("Like a King") and those that touch on personal concerns of love and identity ("Pleasure and Pain"). This combination, on top of Harper's obvious musical talents, makes for an impressive, thoroughly enjoyable first effort.
Personnel: Ben Harper (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, dobro); Suzie Katayama (cello); Richard Cook (Uillean pipes); John McKnight (accordion, bass); Gail Deadrick (piano); Rock Deadrick (drums, percussion, background vocals); Jelani Jones, Kevin Williams, Clyde Allen, Clarence Butler, Clabe Hangan, Kenneth McDaniel, John Taylor (background vocals).Spin (3/94, p.79) - "...the deep moan of the title track proves [Harper] can nail down a blue note with authority...Never mind the obvious potential--Harper's moral fire makes him worth hearing right now..."
Q (10/94, p.116) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...hugely impressive example of modern acoustic folk blues, a mix that might easily be unique...A natural talent and a quiet lovely record..."
Dirty Linen (6-7/94, p.51) - "...remarkable maturity....It's the most striking debut since Tracy Chapman's..." Welcome To The Cruel World Music | List Price | $11.98 (You save $1.83) | | Category | Rock Albums, Blues CDs, Rock/Pop, Alternative, Live Performances | | Label | Virgin | | Orig Year | 2009 | | All Time Sales Rank |  5496  | | CD Universe Part number | 1032991 | | Catalog number | 39320 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Feb 08, 1994 | | Studio/Live | Live | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Producer | Ben Harper; JP Plunier | | Engineer | Mikal Reid | | Personnel | Suzie Katayama - cello
Ben Harper - vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, dobro
John Taylor - background vocals
Kevin Williams
Rock Deadrick - drums, percussion, background vocals
Richard Cook - Uillean pipes
Clabe Hangan
Clarence Butler
Clyde Allen
Gail Deadrick - piano
Jelani Jones
John McKnight - accordion, bass
Kenneth McDaniel
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Ben Harper Welcome To The Cruel World Songs Welcome To The Cruel World Music Welcome To The Cruel World Music Review Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)   Deep and Poetic
Probably the best album for this great Artist. Great songs, deep text, and a groove ever shown by Ben. Try to listen it!!
Submitted by a reviewer (Reggio Emilai ITaly)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
The best since Hendrix.
Ben Harper is the greatest innovator, his music is so original. Not only does he have the touch of blues, but also he isnt afraid to add religion to his music. For not being commercialy known he can still sell out concert venues. When you see Ben Harper live, he doesnt dazzle you with big expensive light shows or gimmicks, he touches your soul with his music alone.
In closing, Ben Harper is the master of SOUL. The greatest since Jimi Hendrix. Period.
Submitted by runvs0u812 (White Lake, Mi)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Musical Love
This is a beautiful album, with a different sound than the later albums. Just Ben, the guitar, and his art. Soft, methodical, and soothing, and with enough soul to break even the coldest of hearts.
Submitted by eatdrinkbemerry (The Dalles, Oregon)
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Buy Welcome To The Cruel World CD Purchase Welcome To The Cruel World CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Ben Harper Fight For Your Mind CD (2009)
Welcome To The Cruel World
 $11.85  
Available with WELCOME TO THE CRUEL WORLD and THE WILL TO LIVE in THE BEN HARPER BOX SET.
With languorous poetry (think 1970s-era Dylan) delivered in a passionate, earthy voice distinctly redolent of Richie Havens, Ben Harper earned immediate attention for his genuine, and often vigorous, brand of bluesy folk rock. He opens his 1995 debut, FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND, in socially conscious mode ...
| | Ben Harper Will To Live CD (2009)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$9.35 
Available with FIGHT FOR YOUR MIND and WELCOME TO THE CRUEL WORLD in THE BEN HARPER BOX SET.
More than just the testosterone Tracy Chapman, Ben Harper's WILL TO LIVE shows him to be an introspective songwriter whose musical horizons have broadened considerably on his third album. Having toured the prior two years with louder groups like Pearl Jam and PJ Harvey may have influenced ...
| | Harper, Ben & The Innocent Criminals Burn To Shine CD (2009)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$10.19
By using a wide range of influences and styles, ...
| | Buena Vista Social Club CD (1997)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$15.05
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Performance.
That Ry Cooder, you've got to keep an eye on him every minute, or he jumps into another cross-cultural collaboration. In the wake of his landmark recordings TALKING TIMBUKTU with Ali Farka Toure and A MEETING BY THE RIVER with V.M. Bhatt comes BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, essentially a supergroup of traditional Cuban musicians with the addition of international agitator Cooder. Somehow, Cooder always finds just the right space to slide his sinuous slide guitar into, so that it works in almost any context. Here, amidst the multi-layered percussion, piano and Cuban guitar rhythms, Cooder's slide simultaneously finds a home and eggs the ensemble on. The natural beauty of the Cuban tonal and rhythmic palette is the ...
| | Ben Harper Diamonds On The Inside CD (2003)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$11.99
In the three years-plus interim between this and his last studio album, Ben Harper traversed the world, and the already introspective singer/songwriter has clearly done even more soul-searching and emerged with his most earnest (and that's no mean feat), focused set to date. DIAMONDS ON THE INSIDE flows organically with that transcendent feeling exemplfied by lines so simple and revealing as "can you look into my eyes, or has your heart gone blind," which harbor the ability to subtly wend their way into the subconscious and the heart simultaneously.
Harper's gathered his acclaim via trenchant lyricism and his knack for adeptly and sincerely blending many styles into a rocking, grooving concoction. On "Brown Eyed Blues," he channels Al Green before breaking down into a jam reminiscent of Santana or War, then follows it with the P-Funk-esque "Bring The Funk." He recalls Sam Cooke's spirituals on the breathtaking "When She Believes," and can pull off a reincarnation of Cat Stevens ...
| | Jack Johnson On And On CD (2003) Digipak
Welcome To The Cruel World
$10.79
Something of a slacker renaissance man, prototypical mellow surfer-dude Jack Johnson is not only a BILLBOARD-charting recording artist, but also a world-champion ...
| | John McEuen Acoustic Traveller CD (1996)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$11.39
| | Ma Rainey's Black Bottom CD (1975)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$14.45
| | Before The Blues: The Early American Black Music Scene, Volume 1 CD (1996)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$15.29
| | Hastings Street Grease Vol. 2: Detroit Blues Is Alive! CD (1999)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$15.25
| | J B Hutto Rock With Me Tonight CD (1999)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$9.65
| | Vines Highly Evolved CD (2002)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$12.49
Most folks first became aware of Australian rockers the Vines via their cover of the Beatles' "I'm Only Sleeping" on 2001's I AM SAM soundtrack album. A few months down the line, their 2002 debut album HIGHLY EVOLVED took the UK by storm. Shortly thereafter, the album was released in the US with high hopes. The group's basic, no-frills guitar rock should find plenty of friends among fans of the Strokes, the Hives, White Stripes, etc. It's rock & roll stripped to the bone, pared down to charging riffs that reference such evergreen influences as the Stooges and the MC5, and sharp songcraft ...
| | Sly & Robbie Riddim: Best Of Sly & Robbie In Dub 1978-85 CDs (2004) (Import) Import; United Kingdom
Welcome To The Cruel World
$17.09
Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare have been at the epicenter of reggae, dub, ragga, and Jamaican crossover music since the 1970s. Known primarily for their innovative ...
| | Duke Robillard Blue Mood CD (2004) (Import) Canada
Welcome To The Cruel World
$15.65
| | Slow Motion Driver Liquid CD (2007)
Welcome To The Cruel World
$13.95
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