i think its pretty obvious who his inspiration was for this track...The Rolling Stones! (during their golden era that is: '68-'72 IMO)
1) I think "Engraved Invitation" refers to the cover of the Stones' seminal 1968 record Beggars Banquet, which was a very minimalist white cover with the band/album name embossed on the front http://www.timeisonourside.com/lpBanquet.jpg (I could open a whole can of worms about how The Beatles' "White Album" which was also released in 1968 and which also had a plain white background and the band name embossed on the front - but I'll save that for another time)
2) Stylistically, Ben recreates Keith's famous "distorted acoustic" sound (found on songs like Street Fighting Man and Jumping Jack Flash) by double tracking an acoustic guitar on the left channel and a dirty electric on the right channel. (For all those interested, Keith acheived that distorted acoustic tone by playing his acoustic into an early cassette recorder which would overload and thus distort)
3) Musically, Ben imitates the swaggering rhythm of many Stones tracks by syncopating the guitar riff (accenting the upbeat - often by muting the strings with his left hand)
4) Both solos at 0:47 and at 1:27 are very much in the style of that of Mick Taylor (the guitarist who replaced Brian Jones and worked with the band for most of their "golden era"). For example the solo at 0:47 is reminiscent of the solos in Honky Tonk Women.
5) Haven't had time to figure out the chords yet (only got the album a few hours ago) but the chord change as the song goes into the chorus is a trademark Stones transition.
6) In terms of both production and playing style, the drumming is very Charlie Watts-esque. Not only that but the push/pull between the drums and the rhythm guitar parts is straight up Stones.
The Rolling Stones and Ben Harper are two of my favourite bands/artists, so hearing the two styles combined on the one song is very cool indeed. Great song off a great new album!
i think its pretty obvious who his inspiration was for this track...The Rolling Stones! (during their golden era that is: '68-'72 IMO)
1) I think "Engraved Invitation" refers to the cover of the Stones' seminal 1968 record Beggars Banquet, which was a very minimalist white cover with the band/album name embossed on the front http://www.timeisonourside.com/lpBanquet.jpg (I could open a whole can of worms about how The Beatles' "White Album" which was also released in 1968 and which also had a plain white background and the band name embossed on the front - but I'll save that for another time)
2) Stylistically, Ben recreates Keith's famous "distorted acoustic" sound (found on songs like Street Fighting Man and Jumping Jack Flash) by double tracking an acoustic guitar on the left channel and a dirty electric on the right channel. (For all those interested, Keith acheived that distorted acoustic tone by playing his acoustic into an early cassette recorder which would overload and thus distort)
3) Musically, Ben imitates the swaggering rhythm of many Stones tracks by syncopating the guitar riff (accenting the upbeat - often by muting the strings with his left hand)
4) Both solos at 0:47 and at 1:27 are very much in the style of that of Mick Taylor (the guitarist who replaced Brian Jones and worked with the band for most of their "golden era"). For example the solo at 0:47 is reminiscent of the solos in Honky Tonk Women.
5) Haven't had time to figure out the chords yet (only got the album a few hours ago) but the chord change as the song goes into the chorus is a trademark Stones transition.
6) In terms of both production and playing style, the drumming is very Charlie Watts-esque. Not only that but the push/pull between the drums and the rhythm guitar parts is straight up Stones.
The Rolling Stones and Ben Harper are two of my favourite bands/artists, so hearing the two styles combined on the one song is very cool indeed. Great song off a great new album!