Ben Harper
Both Sides of the Gun

SONY WIDE AWAKE.
(Dialogue with my CD player at 4:30 AM after yet another sleepless night).
 
 
 ON.
Player: Ehm? oh god, what's up!? what's going on in your head, Punny?!
Punisher: Nothing, just passing by...
P: What's that goofy smile? I know you, buddy... every time you have that grin it means you want to screw me over... stop right there... don't go further...
P: You're so dramatic, my dear Sony... are you "playing hard to get" now?
L: No, but I DON'T LIKE it when you approach so slyly... what do you have behind your back? Why won't you show me your hands?
P: Oh, what do you think I have... just the usual CD to review?
L: Let's see what the hell you're putting in me this time?
P: See? It's Ben Harper's latest double album, not the usual Italian trash... and you say I don't treat you well... oh, I mean BEN HARPER, right?!
L: Christ, A DOUBLE ALBUM!
P: Well, it's a double in name only? everything could've fit on a single, and why do you care? Would you have preferred Anna Oxa's triple album huh?!
L: You should know we CD players have a limited lifespan, we last 3 years, 4 if we're lucky... did you know that?
P: So what?
L: So if you could do me the favor and review these discs WITHOUT listening to them in full, it'd be great... or do you want me to die having listened to more crappy music than beautiful ones?
P: Well... you don't have to put it like that...
L: Oh no?! In the past 3 months, I've listened to everything, from Zero to Masini, from Kitaro to Oxa, even the Banfi-Minghi duo, do you think that's nice of you? Is this what you call "love"? Mhh... and how is this Harper?
P: How should I know, I'm here for that... come on, open up...
L: Let's hope for the best...
 EJECT.
 PLAY.
P: Let's go with CD 1, the slow one...
L: Two discs, one slow and one more rhythmic... loads of originality, right?
P: Shut up and let me listen...
L: How is it? The first track is decent, isn't it?
P: Yeah, well.... But musically, it seems pretty flat except for his moving teddy bear voice, hoarse but expressive and "soulful" that saves the day as always and keeps the flag high...
L: Even the production, listen to those beautiful "vintage" sounds... he's cool in these things, right?
P: Mhh... it's the thing that he does best even if it's always the same?
L: First track is a bit long, isn't it?
P: In fact, we're already on the third!
L: Damn, but they all sound similar... same arrangements, same sounds, same harmonic passages...
P: Okay okay, I'll fast forward
L: Slowsloooooowlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>||
P: Here we are, already at track 9... similar to the others, nothing that particularly sticks, he repeated the formula throughout the album... nice but a bit too "samey"? well, sure, there are some nice "authorial touches" here and there, like the '70s solo in "Reason to Mourn" really cute?
L: Yes, but... what does the music press say?
P: Just forget it, nowadays it's all about sucking up to everyone... is there still any independent journalism to honestly criticize these big names? No, huh?
L: Put on the other one so at least we can dance...
P: Don't make me laugh... tsh "dance"... think of this...
 EJECT.
 PLAY.
L: Ohhh, listen... here at least the drums hit hard... the '70s groove isn't bad, these deliberately lo-fi distortions, lifts things a bit, no? And then the voice? can you hear how much of a beautiful savage he is?!
P: Mhh... and talk less damn it, I want to listen well...
L: Woww, feels like being at Woodstock, right?! Feel that funk nature... damn, I can't contain myself... YEAAHH! let me feeEEeel my soul!
P: ARE YOU CRAZY?! Don't you see you'll make the disc skip if you move like that?!
L: Um sorry, but this first track was too cool...
P: Actually, it's the third...
L: NOOO!!, don't tell me... you mean even this one...
P: Yes, it's cute but entirely dispensable... better the old Santana of Abraxas or the first Lenny Kravitz or the things from his first three albums... what's the point of making an album like this NOW?!
L: Maybe he had an "expressive urgency"... had to say some things...
P: I understand, but then, I don't know, he should open a blog, get a book published, do some concerts... here you've got the entire catalog of the already heard and the already said... I just don't get it, especially from someone like him... and the lyrics, let's not even go there...
L: Well, with a double album you make much more money...
P: Mhh
L: What's up Punny?
P: I can't stand this pragmatic lucidity of yours from an impeccable electronic machine that gets straight to the point of things without beating around the bush. With you it's easy, if you press PLAY you start, no middle ground, no interpretations, there are no "human" or "sentimental" variables right?
L: Indeed
P: With you one plus one always equals two, right?
L: Ha ha
P: mhh
 EJECT.
L: What is it now... where are you going with those two CDs?
P: I'm putting them on the top shelf of the discotheque to gather dust or I'll take them in the car...
L: You mean you won't ever put them on for me again?!
P: Hey, are you calling me a masochist now?!
L: PRAISE THE LORD, Great Punny... and they say you don't have a heart of gold!!
P: Yeah, sometimes I would prefer to have a heart of metal, like you... no uncertainties, no doubts: good or bad, a record you machines IMMEDIATELY FEEL if it "works" or not, almost in real-time, right? in these things you machines are quite enviable. GOOD or NOT GOOD without wasting time making subjective and debatable reviews...
L: Okay okay and after this half ramble, what will you make me listen to that's nice?! Eh? shoot, come on? any sneak peek?
P: Go to hell?
L: Mhh? strange name but? already heard, what do they do? Rap?! Metal?! Rockabilly?! or maybe
 STOP.
 OFF