Welcome to the Cruel World Ben Harper

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CD

  • Release Date: 02/08/1994
  • Sales Rank: 24,403
  • Label: VIRGIN RECORDS US
  • UPC: 724383932023

Listener Rating: (2 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "Originality" See All

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Vinyl LP - Special Edition$25.99
 
  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
Click on LISTEN or link to hear an audio clip.
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Welcome to the Cruel World

1LISTENThe Three of Us 2:35
2LISTENWhipping Boy 5:31
3LISTENBreakin' Down 4:00
4LISTENDon't Take That Attitude to Your Grave 4:25
5LISTENWaiting on an Angel 3:53
6LISTENMama's Got a Girlfriend Now 2:29
7LISTENForever 3:23
8LISTENLike a King 4:18
9LISTENPleasure and Pain 3:44
10LISTENWalk Away 3:49
11LISTENHow Many Miles Must We March 3:07
12LISTENWelcome to the Cruel World 5:36
13LISTENI'll Rise 3:35

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

The full range of Ben Harper's influences would not come to bear until later albums, but his debut, Welcome to the Cruel World, lays a strong foundation. "Like a King" and "Take That Attitude to Your Grave" burn with a political conviction rarely heard during the 1990s. "Forever" has a tenderness which demonstrates Harper's emotional range. Lackluster hippie jams that cultivated his early following may have served a purpose but feel fluffy by comparison when compared to the meatier tracks. Ben closes the album with a song that frequently closes his concerts, "I'll Rise." This song, built around Maya Angelou's 1979 poem "And Still I Rise," reminds one of art's ability to pierce through society, self, and the soul. Ryan Randall Goble, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

  • Listener Rating:
  • Ratings: 2Reviews: 2

ben started off strongby dontgodownxo

Reader Rating:
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September 26, 2009: By no means am I going to say that his newer albums aren't good. But this CD defines Ben Harper in my eyes. He gave newcomers to his music something to think about, with his lyrics that relate to childhood, love, hate, prejudice, and overall life in general. It is a songwriters job to express either themselves, their observations, or the ideas that they have. In my opinion, he went beyond himself to pull the words out, and that is a sign of a very talented artist. Ben may be talented with an instrument, but give this album a listen more for the overall composition and flow. Some of the songs are catchy and make you want to get up and move, and on the other hand, a few of them have you lost in thought. This is the album that got me into Ben Harper, and I would suggest giving it a good hard listen even if you only own his work with Relentless7.

I Also Recommend: American Myth, Fight for Your Mind.

the greatestby Anonymous

Reader Rating:
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March 22, 2001: Every CD Ben Harper has is one of a kind and there isn't one song that i have not liked. This is his first CD, with amazing lyrics and beautiful performance on the accustic. It's too bad Ben Harper takes his sweet time to come out with new albums, I guess you jsut can't rush poetry from the soul.