However, this album is chock full of gems for just about everybody. The first single, "With My Own Two Hands" is a powerful work of reggae, reminding me very strongly of Peter Tosh's Equal Rights work. "When It's Good" has the down-south feel of classic acoustic blues. "Brown Eyed Blues" and "Bring the Funk" are very soulful tracks. "Temporary Remedy" recall Ben's adventurous electric outings from The Will to Live and Burn to Shine. The album concludes with three tender pieces, with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on "Picture of Jesus".

The album keeps up with Ben's sincerity of musicianship and adds in (for the first time on record) the band's incredibly tight improvisation skills, but it still feels a bit schizophrenic all around. For fans of Ben, I highly recommend you pick it up. Like his other albums, there is plenty to enjoy here, it's just so incredibly different it may take a while to digest.

I listen to it because it's Ben, not because it's good.

"Diamonds on the Inside" is a step in the right direction. Musically it's much better than "Burn to Shine" and I might even go so far as to say it's the best it's ever been, but it's lacking in the political arena. Ben's first three albums form sort of a trilogy. Each album has three prime components: Political Songs, Spiritual Songs, and Love Songs. But "Diamonds on the Inside" continues the break started with "Burn to Shine." Both lack the politics of the previous albums. For example, on "Fight for Your Mind" there's the title track, there's "One Road to Freedom," "When the People Lead," and "Oppression." All incredible political songs. On "Diamonds on the Inside," there's the song, "With My Own Two Hands," which is very, very, good, but I want more.

I want Ben to return to his political roots and as Marley sang, SAY SOMETHING!

While Harper's politics are missing, his spirit is definitely there. If you liked "Waiting on an Angel," "Power of the Gospel," "I Want to be Ready," or "In the Lord's Arms," there's definitely a space for you on this album. "Amen Omen," "Blessed to be a Witness," and "Picture of Jesus," are all very tight songs.
Basically, the album's solid, and, in my opinion, it's a sort of recovery album from "Burn to Shine." It's definitely worth picking up after you have his first three albums, but I would highly recommend you pick up those first. I hope in the future, Ben returns to the political agenda that he established in his early albums. We need his voice now more than ever. I, of course, expect him to grow as an artist, but I also want him to stick to this roots.

COME HOME, BEN!
We're waiting on you.