The audience has come to know Ben Harper as a singer / songwriter with a love for rock, blues and gospel. Together with his musical right hand, guitarist Jason Mazersky, Ben continues his familiar line on Give Till It's Gone. That is not bad, because the songs are also good on this tenth album. Perhaps fueled by the recent divorce from his wife (actress Laura Dern), Harper is shaking up the strong
… songs. In turn he opts for rock songs and more modest material. Opening track Don't Give Up On Me Now is a monument to a song, and you can't escape the idea that Harper wrote it for his two children whom he sees much less since the divorce. Another striking song is the psychedelic Spilling Faith, which is strongly based on The Beatles. Not that weird, because Ringo Starr is behind the drums on that one song. Give Till It's Gone is an inspired album by an artist who continues to release great albums even when the news is finished. (PdK)more
