Artist: Ben Harper Album: By My Side

Year: 2012
Duration: 0:0-1

A of the Album: By My Side by Ben Harper

Ben Harper is a multitalented, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter from California, whose music is a fusion of rock, soul, blues, and folk. His album, By My Side, released in 2012, is an acoustic compilation of his most popular songs from a career spanning two decades. It's a unique experience as the stripped-back approach lets the lyrics and melodies shine through. The acoustic guitar and harmonica, Harper's signature instruments, feature prominently. In this post, I'll be reviewing the album, highlighting the best songs, and assessing its innovation and weaknesses.
The genre of By My Side is purely acoustic, which sets it apart from previous works. The songs were stripped of their original electronic or rock sound, creating a raw and authentic feeling. This approach showcases Harper's emotional and soulful voice better. The track selection is impressive, selected based on fan request, to give us a never-ending feeling of nostalgia.
The best songs in the album are Forever, Not Fire, Not Ice, Waiting on an Angel, and By My Side. The former is a pleasant and laid-back love song that features a catchy melody and beautiful guitar riffs. The latter is a stirring duet that tugs at the heartstrings. It features bluesy guitar and Harper's signature harmonica, culminating in an emotional performance.
The most innovative part of the album is the fact that it's purely acoustic. It is refreshing to hear tracks we've loved before stripped down, without the use of amplifiers and drum sets. Harper's vocals are given the opportunity to shine as does his skill on the guitar and harmonica. His ability to elicit emotion through his music is showcased in each song.
However, a critique of the album is the overall sound is repetitive, providing little diversity except in lyrics, but that's expected in a compilation album. Though his voice and the melody, contributed to a relaxing listening experience, there was little variance in the tempo and that could become mundane with time.
Overall, By My Side is an impressive album. It's worth the listen, not only for the reworked sounds of the songs but for the story that comes through with the emotive layers of Harper's voice. Harper's ability to remain authentic in every song is a testament to why he's a great musician. As a fan of his work, I would highly recommend this album to anyone who wants to enjoy and appreciate the art that goes behind creating beautiful music.