Both Sides Of The Gun - Ben Harper
Both Sides Of The Gun Image
Metascore
69 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 21 Ratings

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  • Summary: Harper's first album in three years is split into a disc of uptempo rockers and a second disc of acoustic ballads.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    It's occasionally a bit too easy to play spot-the-influences with Harper's stuff... but his unabashed, unaffected nostalgia is more charming than irritating. [24 Mar 2006, p.69]
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  2. Rolling Stone
    80
    The rap on Ben Harper's music up to this point has been that it's been too derivative. This could be the album where he finally transcends that. [23 Mar 2006, p.61]
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  3. Uncut
    60
    What Harper's over-educated style can't replicate is his heroes' blazing souls. [Apr 2006, p.114]
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  4. Mojo
    60
    [CD1's] uproar casts most of CD2's over-delicate maunderings in a wan light. [Apr 2006, p.102]
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See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. MikeA
    10
    Harper has his downfalls. But critics are a waste of trees in the music business as music is purely opinion. I love Ben Harper because i love his different sounds, i love his heroes and the fact that his music isn't critcally accepted commercialised crap that fills the music industry theses days.… Expand
  2. AndyW
    8
    amazing songwriting...
  3. NeilTa
    8
    This CD requires more than a few listens before one can accurately give it a rating. I was disaapointed at first listen but after many spins and a couple of live performances later, I think this album is very good, although perhaps his weakest (along with Diamonds on the Inside). This being said, Ben Harper is one of the best songwriters out there right now and is still making music that is relevant. The social/political elements are a nice contrast to the more lovey-dovey offerings.… Expand
  4. TomC
    7
    I've been a fan of Ben Harper for a long time now, but I have to admit that I'm getting a little bit bored with him. His music doesn't seem to be stretching or changing, and it's like he ran out of inspiration a few albums ago. I hope he reinvents himself somewhere along the line, or he's going to regress into being a fun live show, and nothing more.… Expand

See all 10 User Reviews

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