More Than Shimmer From Ben Harper & Relentless7

As we head into Summer, down at the record store that exists only as an abstract these days, the proverbial new release wall is loaded end to end. We’ve been going through all of it, and we’ve got tons of reviews coming over the next week or two. But one album that stood out right from the start is White Lies For Dark Times, the newest from Ben Harper, with his new band Relentless7.

I’ve always liked Ben Harper, but that’s not to say that I’ve always been a fan in the truest sense of the word. He’s obviously a talented musician, but until now, everything that I’ve sampled kept me on the other side of the fence, a safe distance away from Conor Oberst and the sappy singer/songwriters.

I first noticed Relentless7 back in November when their cover of Led Zeppelin’s Good Times, Bad Times made it online in advance of a couple of local shows, which I (regrettably) missed. At the time, I wasn’t sure if it was a Ben Harper side project cover band or what. And when I discovered that it wasn’t, I worried that it might be a rock band “for fun,” not to be taken seriously, in between “proper” Ben Harper albums.

I’m happy to report that’s not the case. I’m also happy to report the story on how this band came together; it’s the kind of thing you stop considering possible once you’ve done some time in Los Angeles.

In the late 90s, Harper was being driven to a gig when the driver suddenly asked if he could play a demo of his band. Harper initially didn’t want to be bothered, perhaps letting celebrity society dictate his attitude for a moment- but he changed his mind, hopped down off his pedestal for a second, and gave it a shot. He was “blown away,” and he started working with the driver, also known as guitarist Jason Mozersky.

Mozersky ultimately brought his buddies into the fold, rounding out the brand-new band Relentless7 with members of Austin natives Oliver Future.

The band’s newest single, rocker Shimmer & Shine, doesn’t advertise the blues that soaks many songs on the new record, but it’s certainly representative of the energy:

What makes the record greater than its story on paper, is that it’s not just a rock record with Ben Harper. Whether the music told him where to dig, or the timing was perfect, Harper’s more aggressive lyrics and delivery are genuine and inspired.

Lay There & Hate Me was one of the first songs to really resonate with me and recollect experiences I would have written angry rock songs about, if I was talented enough of course. He even gets the number of pages in the letter from the woman right.

Meanwhile, Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart) opens with a particularly stinging lyric: “I’m not sure what worries me more / The fact that I’m talking to a wall / or that the wall keeps answering me…”

With Relentless7, Ben Harper has combined that which made his folk & blues so great- their meaningfulness- with soulful, energetic rock songs, with classic, no bullshit pop craftsmanship. Neither of these two hemispheres have been compromised in any way, and the end result is one of the better albums 2009 has brought so far.

It’s worth noting that White Lies For Dark Times is officially out today, and currently available on Amazon in 256kbps, DRM-Free MP3 format, for a completely reasonable $3.99. And every song is truly good.

White Lies For Dark Times
May 5th, 2009
Virgin

1. Number With No Name
2. Up To You Now
3. Shimmer & Shine
4. Lay There & Hate Me
5. Why Must You Always Dress In Black
6. Skin Thin
7. Fly One More Time
8. Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)
9. Boots Like These
10. The Word Suicide
11. Faithfully Remain