Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals – Burn To Shine (1999/2016) [HDTracks FLAC 24bit/192kHz]

Burn to Shine is the fourth studio album by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, released in 1999 on Virgin Records. This album shows Harper working within various genres, including blues, rock, soul, and folk.

Burn to Shine presents proof positive that you can always distill the essence of rock & roll down to a solitary man alone with his guitar and conscience. It sounds inventive yet firmly rooted in the blues-rock singer/songwriter/guitarist tradition of Taj Mahal and of Neil Young and Cat Stevens at their most confessional. Harper’s guitar with falsetto vocal in “The Woman in You” even suggests a Curtis Mayfield tune in the hands of Prince. “Steal My Kisses” is one of those uncluttered, radio-friendly rock shuffles that simply makes you bob your head and feel better. Even Harper’s detours — like the wobbling New Orleans shuffle with the Real Time Jazz Band, “Suzie Blue,” and charred Black Sabbath metal in “Less” — prove worth exploring. Other cameos include guitarists David Lindley and former Bob Marley sideman Tyrone Downey. Burn to Shine is a minor masterpiece that may prove to be not so minor. ~~ AllMusic Review by Chris Slawecki

Tracklist:
1. Alone 03:54
2. The Woman In You 05:52
3. Less 04:08
4. Two Hands Of A Prayer 07:54
5. Please Bleed 04:40
6. Suzie Blue 04:30
7. Steal My Kisses 04:27
8. Burn To Shine 03:34
9. Show Me A Little Shame 03:43
10. Forgiven 05:16
11. Beloved One 04:04
12. In The Lord’s Arms 03:08

Personnel:
Ben Harper, guitar, vocals
Richard Barnes, washboard
Bruce Bishop, guitar
Dean Butterworth, drums, snare drums
Jon Clarke, English horn, oboe
Joel Derouin, Eve Butler, violin
Tyrone Downie, keyboards
Michael Fay, banjo
David Firman, Juan Nelson, bass
Matt Funes, viola
Jim Bogen, clarinet
Suzie Katayama, cello
David Leach, percussion
James Leigh, trombone
David Lindley, banjo, fiddle, mandolin
Real Time Jazz Band
Nick Rich, human beatbox
Eric Sarafin, piano, harmonium, recorder