Ben Folds...rank 'em/appreciate/whatever

[NardDog]

So I'm counting down the days until my friendly mailman brings me my super deluxe package of Way To Normal Ben's new release out Sept. 30th. Until then I thought I'd say a bit about the man, the myth, the albums. I love all of his albums and would give everything a **** or higher rating so keep that in mind when I rank them at the end. So here are his major releases chronologically starting with BFF(I've omitted Fear Of Pop and the Shatner album but they're worth checking out as well...also the Live one but it does have a couple unreleased ones on it including One Down[and3.6 to go])

Ben Folds Five(1995)

All in all this is a great debut. Like most people what I first heard was Whatever and Ever Amen but if you started here it wouldn't alter your peception too much. My favorites include Underground(hand me my nose ring), Philosophy, The Last Polka, Best Imitation Of Myself, and Boxing. There aren't any duds on this album but some aren't as amazing as the ones I mentioned.

Whatever And Ever Amen(1997)

This album is one of those times when all the stars align and God smiles down on you and gives you a perfect amazing gift. I don't know what else to say about this album...except I'm not overhyping it(at least to my ears). Then in (2005) they re-released it with this cover

If you've never heard it I would say get the original but only because some of the 7 extra tracks aren't perfect like the rest of the album but stand out extras include the covers of Video Killed The Radio Star and She Don't Use Jelly. Plus the cool instrumental Theme From "Dr. Pyser"(which to my knowledge is a purely fictional movie/tv show). But either way whichever one you get this album is one of the greatest of all time. GET ONE!(...or both for that matter)

Naked Baby Photos(1998)

In terms of Priority this should be way down the list. Half Studio/Half Live this album has some stuff that probably should have never been released but tracks like For Those Of Y'all Who Wear Fanny Packs, The Ultimate Sacrifice and Satan Is My Master would probably fit in that category since they aren't "proper" songs and for that reason this album was a good move. Also contains the "proper" song Emaline.

The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner(1999)

Artistically speaking this might be the best thing Ben Folds band or solo has put out. Starting with the opening track Narcolepsy...amazing dynamics and beautiful orchestrations. This album is the closest he has gotten to sounding like Burt Bacarach(probably misspelled that) with the flugel horn in Don't Change Your Plans and the cocktail party sounds of Regrets and Jane. But there's also some classic Ben Folds sounding stuff like Army and Lullabye. A beautiful album but I like Whatever And Ever Amen better.

Rockin' The Suburbs(2001)

This is probably my favorite of his solo albums. Another perfect one...the only song that might be slightly imperfect is Losing Lisa just because it can come across as cliched melodically speaking and some of the words are a little blah. The Luckiest might be the best love song ever. Zak And Sara classic Folds. Also great poignant ones like Still Fighting It, Fred Jones part 2, The Ascent Of Stan...but really if I didn't stop myself I would recomend every song on this album. Another Must Have.

Songs For Silverman(2005)

The more "mature" Ben Folds(read that melancholy). Don't get me wrong this album is amazing and I listen to it all the time. But I get annoyed with people who can't appreciate silliness/light heartedness as a serious form of art. The album seems to crap out a little toward the end but there are no songs that will make you cringe or want to turn it off.

SUPPERSUNNYSPEEDGRAPHIC, the LP(2006)

Technically all material contained within this album was written and recorded between Suburbs and Silverman and released on a string of EPs (Speed Graphic, Sunny 16, Super D, The Bens...hence the album title). This album contains about 75% of what was in the EPs and some songs were redone and made more awesome (Learn To Live With What You Are). This also contains Ben's version of the Dr Dre song B****es Ain't S**t...quite simply amazing and all gangsta rap should be given this treatment...think of it as MST3K in musical form...pure genius. Other standouts include There's Always Someone Cooler Than You, All U Can Eat, Adelaide, and Bruised.

Way To Normal(2008)

This might be jumping the gun a bit but since I've heard most of this album already I'll include my impression of it (later I'll amend this if need be). This album is a culmination of all that has come before it. There is some more somber stuff with Cologne silly stuff with Hiroshima and some great orchestrations mixed throughout. My only wish is that the leaked version of Bitch Went Nuts was the one that was on the album...I think it's the funniest song I've ever heard Ben Folds do. Like I said my opinion will probably change once I hear it all on CD/Vinyl instead of isolated tracks via the internet, and there are still 2 or 3 I haven't heard. But I think my overall opinion will be pretty much in line with what I've said. I know you can't wait for me to revise this...but calm down I will in due time.


Favorite to least favorite(not Best To Worst since all albums are great to very great)

1. Whatever And Ever Amen
2. Rockin The Suburbs
3. Way To Normal
4. SUPERSUNNYSPEEDGRAPHIC
5. Songs For Silverman
6. The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner
7. Ben Fold Five
8. Naked Baby Photos

[NardDog]

For those interested...Ben Folds put up his new album up on his myspace page...It's great as I previously mentioned

Check Out Kylie From Connecticut and The Frown Song and the Album version of Bitch Went Nuts isn't that bad...he also has the other version entitled Bitch Went Nutz up there....one of his best albums ever and that's saying a lot...I might like it better than Rockin' The Suburbs


...anyway here's a link...Check it out!
www.myspace.com/benfolds

[Mr. Atari]

I'm a huge Ben fan. I've seen him live a couple of times, and he's always great.

I posted my thoughts on a couple of his albums in this thread.

I prefer the Ben Folds Five stuff to his solo albums. I really didn't like Songs for Silverman that much, but I loved the EPs. I like it when he tries different things musically and when he's subtly funny. I don't like it when he gets preachy or does the novelty songs.

So I'm hoping the new one has more tracks like "Kalamazoo" or "Philosophy" and less like "All U Can Eat" or "B*tches Ain't S**t".

[NardDog]

Atari I don't know if you've heard the new one or not but it is definitely more light hearted but there are some great poignant songs on it like Kylie From Connecticut.There are also plenty of fun classics...as far the preachy thing All U Can Eat is as preachy as he gets in my book..but everyone draws their line at different places. For instance, some people might think songs like There's Always Someone Cooler Than You or Learn To Live With What You Are are preachy but I see them as inspirational...then again I don't hate anything he's ever done...it's all good to me.

Silverman was a creeper for me(meaning my appreciation for it creeped up on me)...at first I wasn't too impressed but that's because I was used to light-hearted Ben...and Silverman is as somber as he's ever been...but it's good stuff.

I have only seen him once and my girlfriend at the time hated him so she was unpleasant throughout the show(It was Bonnaroo '06) but he'll be here in a month(Houston) and I'm looking forward to it.

Also it looks like he took the album down of his myspace page...hopefully that was a glitch...but like I said if you like his fun loving side this album is more in that vein than Silverman...some people might think songs like The Frown Song or Brainwasht maybe even something like Effington are preachy but not to my ears but nothing as blatant as All U Can Eat that's as political as he's ever been as has since said that it was a one-off type deal...just like B****es Ain't S**t

EDIT:The Album is up ...I guess it was a glitch

[silvermorgan]

I've never been one that's able to rank things in any kind of order, but I can definitely tell you why each album is special to me.

Whatever & Ever Amen: I heard this album first, but not because of Brick (at this point in time, I NEVER listened to radio, so I had no idea Brick was a big hit), but because of Song For the Dumped. A co-worker lent me the album. I only had to listen once before I rushed to Best Buy and bought my own copy. There is not one song I do not like on this album. Though I can tell you one of my absolute favorites is Selfless, Cold, and Composed. It hits a personal place for me.

Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner: This album holds a very special place in my heart, because it came out during an incredibly dramatic and difficult time in my life. I was faced with the realization that my entire life until that point had been based on a lie and I was left to my own devices to figure crap out. I listened to this album a lot. It's much more reflective and contemplative than Whatever & Ever Amen and it was perfect for what I was going through. I. Love. This. Album.

Ben Folds Five: My "morning sunshine" - many, many songs that I love to sing-a-long to in my car before work. It pumps me up for spending a day in a bland office with a job that provides no creative outlets for my active mind. Jackson Cannery, Underground, Julianne...wonderful.

Naked Baby Photos: I don't listen to this album as much. It comes out every now and again. It's just kind of there for fun, I guess.

And I have to say, Ben Folds lost me on his solo stuff. I don't know what it is - what I've heard just hasn't packed the same punch that Ben Folds Five did. Maybe I'm listening to the wrong stuff. *shrug*

[NardDog]

sorry to hear that...I really didn't have a problem when he switched ...the biggest problem I ever had with his music was from Suburbs which I absolutely loved to Silverman which when I first heard I was underwhelmed...I mean I guess BFF was rawer generally speaking but there are track throughout his solo stuff that are the stripped down piano/bass/drums sound

I will say the Ben/Darren/Robert three part harmony tandem is amazing and hasn't really been equaled

...maybe that's why???

[Mr. Atari]

I also prefer the band's work to his solo stuff. However, I think "...Suburbs" was a perfect solo album, in that it kept some of the feel of the band, while still sounding stripped down and different. "...Silverman", on the other hand, just seems like it's missing something. Some songs from that album are good, like "Landed", "Trusted", and "You to Thank". Everything else just seems like filler to me. In fact, I'd rather have had 7 of the songs from his EPs fill out the album instead of the forgettable stuff. And the one song from the EPs ("Give Judy My Notice") was way better on the EP.

I listened to the new one on his myspace page (thanks for the link!). It took me a while to figure out what songs are really for the album and which ones were from the fake leak. There were a couple that I didn't care for, but then I found out they were fake, which calmed me down. After a couple listens, I think this one will fall between Suburbs and Silverman for me. The songs are more memorable than Silverman's, but the lyrics are dark, like Silverman's. And it sounded like he was trying to channel Paul McCartney a few times with his vocals. Which is never a bad thing for me.

One more complaint:
I know it's Ben's bread and butter to "cuss on the mic tonight". That doesn't bother me. But he used to isolate the colorful words to a song or two an album, and really let it fly on those few songs. Now, it seems like he's dropping an F-bomb in every song. Again, I don't particularly mind, but I like to rock out to Ben in the car, often with family and friends. And now, I can't just skip over a song or two, I have to go without 85% of the album.

[NardDog]

I just checked the myspace page again and as of now there are only 2 songs that actually are gonna be on the new album (Hiroshima and You Don't Know Me) the rest are fake versions and The Luckiest of course...but for a couple of days he had the whole thing up there. In between a couple songs there are some funny segues. It almost plays like a concept album. It comes out Tuesday so it's almost a moot point now.

Here's the official track listing: with a couple short notes on what I think are the stand outs
1. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)<funny, actually a true story...kinda sounds like Benny & The Jets
2. Dr. Yang
3. The Frown Song< this is funny but also has something to say(some of the lyrics are in my sig)
4. You Don't Know Me (featuring Regina Spektor)<if the album has a hit it's this one
5. Before Cologne
6. Cologne< a beautiful understated love song
7. Errant Dog
8. Free Coffee
9. Bitch Went Nuts< very sing along-able but I like the fake one better
10. Brainwascht< another good one
11. Effington
12. Kylie from Connecticut< kind of reminds me of Fred Jones part 2 meets Eleanor Rigby lyrically musically a bittersweet ballad but it doesn't sound like the two songs I previously mentioned

[silvermorgan]

Sept 27, 2008 21:07:32 GMT -5 NardDog said:

I will say the Ben/Darren/Robert three part harmony tandem is amazing and hasn't really been equaled

...maybe that's why???

You know, I think you might be right. I never thought of that, but that is a huge thing for me.

I haven't heard anything from Rockin' the Suburbs. Or if I had, I've forgotten. But since you and Mr. Atari seem to agree that it's one of the best, I'm going to give it a shot. Because I think Ben Folds is an incredible artist. I think part of the reason I quit playing piano in college was because I knew I would never play at his level. I'm a Beethoven gal. Jazz and syncopated rhythms were always a b*tch for me to play. I didn't have the focus for it. ..

Bah. I gotta stop reliving that regret before I get to depressed!

[NardDog]

Sept 29, 2008 19:36:41 GMT -5 silvermorgan said:

Sept 27, 2008 21:07:32 GMT -5 NardDog said:

I will say the Ben/Darren/Robert three part harmony tandem is amazing and hasn't really been equaled

...maybe that's why???

You know, I think you might be right. I never thought of that, but that is a huge thing for me.

I haven't heard anything from Rockin' the Suburbs. Or if I had, I've forgotten. But since you and Mr. Atari seem to agree that it's one of the best, I'm going to give it a shot. Because I think Ben Folds is an incredible artist. I think part of the reason I quit playing piano in college was because I knew I would never play at his level. I'm a Beethoven gal. Jazz and syncopated rhythms were always a b*tch for me to play. I didn't have the focus for it. ..

Bah. I gotta stop reliving that regret before I get to depressed!

Yeah Ben Folds is on helluva piano player but whether you are or aren't as good as him don't give up. For me what makes someone great has little to do with how technically proficient they are, it's about how natural it sounds. Don't get me wrong I sit slack jawed when I hear John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess do an amazing duet but their are some technical players that are too clinical in their approach and I'd rather hear Johnny Ramone play some earnest bar chords instead.