Bradley Haering, Asst. Tempo Editor

Born in California, but huge in Europe, Ben Harper has been making solid backyard-party-family-fun music since he was a youth. He’s since surrounded himself with solid musicians; this time, it’s the Innocent Criminals – that know how to make music that floats over through the listener. The slow grooves and soft vocals slow down time so we can catch a breath.

Fans of Harper’s previous releases will be extremely happy to hear this album. It isn’t much on the side of inventive or innovative but leans more toward perfecting the sound that he plays so well. Songs such as “Needed You Tonight” capture Paul McCartney circa “Wings.” Actually, the whole album is reminiscent of McCartney, which is, in the purest sense of the term, feel-good music.

Only a year after his last release, “Both Sides of the Gun,” Harper’s crafted his sound and made another album of similarly well-written songs. “Lifeline” shows that an artist doesn’t always have to evolve in order to make good music. I don’t see this album creating a bigger American audience, but Euros will probably freak out.

GRADE: B