Seriously, he's written ten good songs since getting married.

He probably doesn't burn ones down anymore.

Is it up to ten now?

I haven't listened to Will to Live in ages, and I adored that fucking record. I just lost all interest in him.

Ten might be an over estimation, that being said, I thought Lifeline was decent. Didn't listen to it more than 3 or 4 times though. Pity.

and......................WINNER!

He's still very talented, and puts on great live shows. But, I agree, his albums have been lacking lately. I thought Lifeline was a step back in the right direction, though.

I think he still writes amazing ballads. He's just lost his touch when it comes to rock music. Quite sad.

too many jesus songs

His cover of Sexual Healing is the best ;D

which ten?

With My Own Two Hands
Diamonds On The Inside
Touch From Your Lust
Amen Omen
Morning Yearning
Never Leave Lonely Alone
Better Way
Serve Your Soul
Lifeline
+1 to taste

Ben peaked for me with the Will To Live. The first two records (not counting the indie release) were great. The Will To Live was incredible. And then everything after that has been an agonizingly slow decent into mediocrity.

It could be the marriage thing. Maybe he's too content to write passionate songs anymore. Maybe he's just really peaked creatively. Maybe its because each album seemingly takes off into a radical new direction that its hard to follow a career like that and see good art come from those choices.

I got into him heavily from 1997 to 2000 and he was untouchable then, but ever since Ben started playing Fenders and standing up he hasn't been the same to me. Its like he became a completely different musician.

+1, I was about to write the exact same thing !

totally agree... TOTALLY f'n agree

100% OTM

but i'd extend your '00 to '01, as spring of '01 he was still sitting down and killing it.

Burn To Shine still had a handful of great songs, and would be his last album i'd still consider great, but since then he's been totally hit or miss. Lifeline was a step in the right direction, but still pales compared to those first 3 (and even 4).

Burn To Shine is a wonderful record. The downward slide started with Diamonds On The Inside.

yup... and amazingly that album seems quite good alongside Both Sides of the Gun

I can agree with all of this.

Ben's problem is that he believed the press. He confused being a great musician with being a great songwriter. Please go back to writing songs built around the sound you're making. Stop trying to be the next great and meaningfull songwriter. Just let her rip.

The White STropes Icky Thump rules because you can tell it's the sound of someone just getting off on his guitar. The building songs around that. Ben, please use this as the model for making your next album.

After Burn To Shine, it stopped being BHIC and just became Ben Harper. Ben on his own is pretty mediochre. IMO, Juan Nelson carried him and my most memorable performances of the band are all centred around Juan. Regardless of what drummer he is using, the "meat" of his music always came from the stellar musicians he surrounded himself with. All of the accents these people added to the music are what made it interesting. The off time Reggae hi-hats to the incfectious bass hooks as well as the conga/bongo accents all added to the rather simple structure and performance coming out of Ben. I feel the same way about Ben now that I do about EV's solo album. Who the fuck needs another 4 chord acoustic album? Over the last 80 yrs or so, that ground has been covered.

I will completely agree that BTS was half-assed and the last "good" album that they did. Everything after is utter shit with the exception of about 5 good songs. I think 10 is being too generous. Frankly, I've given up. Being a completist, it's hard but I haven't even bought the live album/DVD package that came out recently. If Marc Ford were to hook up with Ben again, I could see that putting a little life back into the music but as long as Ben won't use the talent his band has, I'm done listening and more importantly, done buying.

those are good ones, i haven't heard his last three records. i guess i kind of lost interest. the hollywood bowl dvd was enjoyable, but i haven't seen it in a couple of years