Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Reviewed by Graham Fyfe

American singer-songwriter Ben Harper's 'Diamonds on the Inside' encompasses reggae, country, folk, hard rock, and blues. With such a range it is unsurprising that 'Diamonds on the Inside' doesn't coalesce particularly well. But this diversity largely works in Harper's favour, and he's astute enough to concentrate on genres that accentuate his soulfulness and authenticity. While Harper isn't a Christian artist, his lyrics touch on spiritual and thought provoking themes. For instance, 'Pictures of Jesus' states that "We long to be a picture of Jesus... with him we shall be forever blessed". 'Diamonds on the Inside' is less focussed on lyrics than Harper's previous releases and is instead a rich tapestry of music.

Reviewed by Graham Fyfe

'Furthermore', as it's title implies, is not a new studio album from Jars of Clay, but an appendix to their existing body of work. The double CD set consists of 'From the Studio', featuring newly recorded minimalist versions of some of their best loved tunes as well as three new songs, and 'From the Stage', which captures a live performance. Of the two discs, the live set is the strongest as an upbeat Jars of Clay revisit stellar tracks 'I Need You', 'Crazy Times' and 'Like a Child', before ending with excellent takes on their trademark song 'Flood' and the contemplative 'Worlds Apart'. The new songs on the studio disc are all worthwhile, while the reinventions of their earlier material are often startling. More than anything, 'Furthermore' is intended for established fans, but it's a pleasure to revisit the best moments of Jars of Clay's strong back catalogue and a innovative alternative to the predictable greatest hits package.