For me Ben Harper is very much a hit or miss artist. Most of the music he's put out is forgettable, but every once in a while he just knocks me over with an original song or cover.

I wasn't expecting much from this CD. How's a Claremont, California boy going to hold his own against a sturdy, first class gospel group? But somehow this marriage works. Harper's slide guitar adds a nice dimension to standard gospel arrangements. But it's his voice that shines here. Who'd have thought he could be this soulful?

This is just plain good music. There are better gospel albums out there to be sure. They're just too raw for popular consumption. For gospel for the masses, this album does a fine job.

I just recently got There Will Be a Light as a gift and I absolutely love it. I feel that it will be a classic in the years to come and it is already a classic to me. It has some incredible elements of music that make this so likable. From smokey blues to country to gospel and even acoustic rock, it is a great album that is simple, yet amazing. Ben Harper is a very good musician and the Blind Boys of Alabama are great vocalists and harmonizers. I'm a Christian and love the topics covered in this album, but the music and quality of the songs stand on their own. Highly recommended.

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Let me begin by stating a potential bias, Ben Harper is one of my top five bands/artists of all time. There was a period in time when he was competing for #1, but my like for Ben Harper took a bit of a hit after his last studio album release "Diamonds on the Inside". Going into the aforementioned album Ben Harper had this
remarkable streak of doubling his previous album's sales every time he released a new disc. I saw a documentary about him, and in it they attributed this to Ben's constant touring and positive word of mouth. It would then follow, that the latest album didn't get so much positive word of mouth. Its not bad, but in my opinion it is clearly the worst album he has released.

However, Ben Harper still had a strong enough reputation in my book that I purchased "There Will be A Light" when I saw it on the new releases without having a clue who the Blinds Boys of Alabama were and what to expect on the album. Well... the Blind Boys of Alabama are a group of blind gospel singing old men from Alabama, and Ben Harper collaborates with them on this album to produce an album that while being gospel in nature is really so much more than that. This is a truly inspired effort. Any doubt I had after Ben's release of "Diamonds on the Inside" was erased after this release. Its not even that it is his best record, it is just that you feel the energy and effort that the older Ben Harper albums have in this recording. But in the end, it is gospel. So anyone who likes Ben Harper should be forewarned, if you couldn't see yourself listening to gospel or if you are anti religious. You might want to steer clear. Luckily for me, I find the sound neat. Its cool having a gospel CD in my collection. Just like its cool to have Johnny Cash in my collection. Even if you need to be in a peculiar mood to throw it in.

But other than that the album is firing on all cylinders. I have to rank it right up there with the best of Ben Harper. Not quite "Fight For Your Mind", but not overly far from it either. Its almost like The Blind Boys of Alabama were able to re-inspire Ben Harper. I never respected a musician more than I did Ben Harper after seeing the documentary on him, and after that I just honestly believed he would never ever step backwards. That all his albums would be sensational, and he would never miss on a song. That was a bit much to expect.

This album has sparked a renassaince for Ben Harper on my stereo.
I can't stop listening to his music. So if you are into Ben Harper, and also think you might be into some old style gospel with Ben Harper infused into it. Then get your hands on this album. The girl I bought it from said "its almost like you could put this on and listen to it rather than going to church." And at the time I chuckled, but I completely understand where she was coming from. You feel good after listening to this album even if you aren't religious at all.

Tracks I can recommend: "Take My Hand", "Wicked Man", "Church
House Steps", "Well, well, well", "satisfied mind", "there will be a Light"

SCORE out of 10: 8.5

ben harper has struck gold again. anyone who loves (nobody just 'kinda likes' him) ben's awesome gift for writing a quality tune will adore his new effort. by guesting with the blind boys it was always goin to be a lil bit different than his previous efforts. but weren't all ben's albums varying? stick this in that already bulging collection and enjoy some heart felt, soulful and delightfully touching music

The problem with this cd is that it is not all that good. Other than that, it is fine.