Enigma. That word gets tossed around a lot here. And in the case of Ben Harper it is the perfect adjective to describe the man and his music. Enigma. Enigmatic. You never know what you're going to get with him. Sometimes it's the utter beauty and chaos of The Will To Live. Other times it's the delightfully sloppy but underwhelming Burn To Shine. But on the absolutely essential new album Both Sides Of The Gun, we finally come into contact with the Harper we've all been longing for. BSOTG is what every artist strives for: to create something that can be used as a benchmark; as a testament to their talent. Radiohead achieved this with OK Computer. Depeche Mode with Violator. Foo Fighters tried but failed miserably with In Your Honor. This time around, Harper reaches for the brass ring and gets it; producing, writing, and playing what will no doubt become his defining album. BSOTG satiates both kinds of Ben Harper fans. There are rockers, there are ballads, and there are oddly off-beat songs that only he can pull off. While splitting the album into two parts may seem silly to some, it ends up lending a positve, more cohesive effect to the album. I'm curious to know what people think of this album. I think it's fucking great. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Ben Harper: Get It Like You Like It

Ben Harper: Serve Your Soul

Ben Harper: Never Leave Lonely Alone

Ben Harper: Cryin' Won't Help You Now