Featured Artist of the Day: Ben Harper & Relentless7

Ben Harper and his new band, Relentless7, release their debut CD, White Lies for Dark Times, today. Ben Harper and Relentless7 are, indeed, relentless- they are hitting the festival circuit hard this summer (Bonnaroo, Allgood, and Lollapalooza, just to name a few). Harper is best known for the stoner anthem “Burn One Down,” the 90’s hit “Steal My Kisses,” and his encore staple, “With My Own Two Hands.” (He also does an excellent rendition of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” by the way).

The new CD is more upbeat and rocking than his music with the Innocent Criminals. It’s currently streaming on their myspace page. The single is called “Shimmer and Shine,” but the band threw up the whole album on the page last night on the eve of the CD release, so fans can hear the entire album before they fork over their money. It’s definitely worth a listen. Ben Harper has always had a healthy dose of soul, and the new sound with Relentless7 kicks it up a notch.

-Julie McCollum

Listening to: Why Must You Always Dress In Black” by Ben Harper and Relentless7

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