Don't give up on me now has a catchy rhythm, and the chorus section highlights Harper's intense far-reaching vocal quality. Harper is a master wordsmith, putting into simple phrases complex thoughts." It's not what we do, it's what we do with what we feel, and; I need to change, I don't know how, don't give up on me now, have undoubtedly been one of the final unspoken thoughts in a tormented relationship. Rock N' Roll Is Free boasts the light traditional Ben Harper playfulness; it is radio-friendly, with an infectious hook peppered with well-timed guitar solos." Feel Love is both beautiful and tragically despairing wrapped up in a tight ball of contained wanting. "Get There From Here is probably one of my favorite tracks. Without the singing getting in the way, this track showcases what Harper does best: play. Pray That Our Love Sees The Dawn has a smooth composition; it is fluid and consistent throughout. Everything works from lyrics to melody, to arrangement.

There were only two songs I would have wrestled with keeping on the album, Clearly Severely, and Will Not Be Broken. That's not to say they aren't without merit. From the gate Clearly Severely is maddeningly chaotic and I Will Not Be Broken has a fierceness and determination to it reminiscent of Randy Newman that is nearly intoxicating, and lyrically, it is a power anthem, but there were nuances that got under my skin that blotted out all the finer points. Having said that, the remainder of the album is fraught with tracks that are perfect for some skin to skin time. Oh, and I did notice the middle tracks, Get There From Here, Pray that Our Love Sees The Dawn, and, Waiting On A Sign, are some of the cleanest tracks and best on the album. The last two tracks however, are a bit dull and anticlimactic from the previous three, which unfortunately ended the album on a sightly curved note for me.

All in all, Harper manages to naturally instill a sea of complicated arrangements on each track. Sound seems to fire at you from all direction, sometimes working together in harmony, other times pushing the limit of your patience. One thing is for certain, Harper is not for the indiscriminate music taster. He is a music maker, and as such, employs sound the way the wind employs the breeze to move the leaves with effortless precision. With the EMI street-date release of the album May 17th, this recent endeavor will be sure to please Harper aficionados abound.

As a whole, it's a great album packed full of memorable tracks. Hats off.