Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Pick a Great Time To Shine

If you're blessed with the opportunity to gain formal introduction to a song perfectly matching your soon-to-be night on the town with pals, snatch it up and run like you found out what section of Fort Knox they're keeping the most abiding clumps of gold bullion. Who you have to thank for this revelry enhancer is Jason Yates, one of Ben Harper's Innocent Criminals. He's managed to get the C and D chords of his electric piano to play nicely. The piano strikes me as being a gentler lead-in to coffee and croissants with pals. As a structural set up for what's to follow Jason couldn't be placed in a better position. Soon after we're rewarded in the form of shakers from renowned percussionist Leon Mobley. Wait a few added nanoseconds and on jumps Oliver Charles sporting his kick drum proudly. So we've got a peaced out head space going. Possibly we're hitting our inner Rolodex to sniff out the top sandwich shop to go haunt. Then, the coup de grace materializes. Ben Harper plunks himself smack in the middle of the funked up jambalaya to spin his select yarn. He sure has a way with the chicks doesn't he. One only needs ruminate on "We shine like a new tattoo scarred on skin as bright as day across my heart. To anyone out there who remembers being extremely young and bold and thus, wanting some indelible under the skin art affixed to the bod God gave you this rings loud as an EMS vehicle on a frantic midnight errand. Oliver gets us jazzed at the possibility of Java tastefully brewed along with a scrumptious BLT. He smacks on his chosen avenue of expression, really inviting us to explore the grittiness of the neighborhoods we only took passing glances at in previous years. Since Ben's moniker gooses the marquee I'll keep my attention squarely on him. Gamely, the Innocent Criminals follow him during the points where laid back steers towards unshakable no other path to follow immediacy. They have his back which frees him up to divert his gaze to the woman he'd probably give today to in exchange for tomorrow. Come to think of it many a relationship could be eased off life support based on the massage indulgent tones placed in the musical photographer's direct sights. Ben knows his mind and his gal's mind equally well. To him the prevailing take away is stuck on "We are like two roads that lead to the same place, won't leave a trace. There is no other way." So what Ben's driving at is when you're in a serious relationship with him forewarned is forearmed. You might hit No Turning Back Terrace. I don't want you to get this uneasy queasiness in your stomachs that stem from the thought Ben might be guilty of exceeding the limits of relationship closeness because I'd need to fact check to know which fluids were flowing through him when he signed off on these lyrics. I'm content to accept this theory that Ben's simply all the way in when he loves someone. Not one damned complaint to register on that score. In fact that admission likely makes coffee and munchies hours a bigger exercise in realized passion rather that an exercise in live to eat eat to live. "Shine" gets its license to stand out from the crowd through intelligent depth of sound based emotion and corresponding vocal restraint. Use of the latter inspires us to stand proudly in Ben's corner. His voice shies away from the desperation walk. He opts for a dignified gradual loosening up of his heartstrings. You want honest answers but not an overblown Ally Sheedy purse contents on the couch Breakfast Club confessional. As an airy gift wrapped package "Shine" is pretty to look at and even prettier to hesr. It cleans up nicely so we can reap the benefits of polished pop.