Ben Folds Five

Ben Folds

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 25, 1995)
• Original Release Date: August 8, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Passenger
• ASIN: B000000IDJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #8,419 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Like the best guitar heroes, Ben Folds, pianist and leader of a guitarless trio called the Ben Folds Five, commands and fuels his small, tightly wound ensemble with an authoritative, nearly virtuosic style. Folds, based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, borrows from everywhere but lends new inspiration and insight to the instrument's possibilities--he's the Jimi Hendrix of the baby grand. His frenetic keypounding eclipses old-time styles from honky-tonk to Jerry Lee Lewis rag, and he outplinks megastars such as Elton John and Billy Joel while sifting them both through the mondo hammerings of classic pop-loving alternative keyboard bashers like Todd Rundgren and Squeeze's Jools Holland. To complement Folds-the-pianist's clean and bright ivory tinkerings, Folds-the-singer's clear and dynamic tenor swirls through Folds-the-songwriter's very capably crafted, sugary pop gems. "Philosophy" starts with a rolling Joel-like intro, slips into a Rundgrenish verse and chorus--complete with the perfect Beatlesque harmonies of bassist Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee--and then breaks out in an overdriven piano quote from Gershwin in the climactic solo. "Underground" Sgt. Peppers us with faux theatrics and then plunges into a soul-gospel groove about the joys of the alternative rock scene. "Uncle Walter" is a character sketch Ray Davies wishes he wrote but couldn't; "Boxing" is an imagined confab between Muhammad Ali and Howard Cosell that Tom Waits wishes he wrote but wouldn't. The rest of Ben Folds Five's debut achievement just does what any other timeless summer record should: it makes you feel sunny enough inside to last all through the year. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 20-Somethinghood, March 10, 2005

By	Kenneth S. Rose "sunsawed" (St. Louis) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ben Folds Five's first self-titled album is a homage to what seems to be a new stage in life: 20-Somethinghood, the period between adolescence and "real life." Many albums have covered adolescence, dating, cliques, fashions, finding yourself amid changes. But Ben Folds attacks the period after when all these questions are supposed to be dealt with, but in today's world a lot still go unanswered.

You think you have a secure identity, but you find the people around you changing until you second guess yourself. It's a time when you have your closest friends, but they always seem to slip in and out of your life as everyone tries to make their path. Everyone keeps moving, including yourself. You chase "the" relationship. You pass from crappy job to crappy job. You try to finally conquer the demons of High School. You try to regain your lost childhood.

Many of Ben Folds's lyrics read like letters, especially the brilliant "Alice Childress" and "Where's Summer B?" songs so intimate you think you've opened someone's mail. Ben sprinkles his songs with delicious humor as on "Juliane," a celebration of a mistake of a one-night stand, and "Uncle Walter," a song about a tongue scolding Ben receives from an absent girlfriend's drunken uncle. Ben assaults the trends of the mid-90's, the Grunge Era in "Underground" and Yuppie Psuedo-sophisticates in "Sports and Wine." Ben has a wonderful flair for making the little things people take seriously seem absolutely ridiculous and the tiny minutiae seem incredibly profound and intimate. All this culminates in "Best Imitation of Myself," where he simultaneously proves and debunks his own genius.

All this set to vitruoso piano refreshingly devoid of pretension with Robert Sledge serving as both Bass and Guitar with the same instrument to amazing effect. Darren Jesse completes the groove (Whither the other two?) of a trio that, in the day, was one of the 90's most captivating, rocking live acts. Folds caresses, attacks, seduces and kerplunks his 88 mistresses into Sonata, Honky-Tonk, Pinball Wizard, Sunday School Sing-A-Long, Wrecking Ball, Lounge Lizard and Kiddy Toy Piano often all within the same song.

"Ben Folds Five" is nearly to post-Adolescence what "Quadrophenia" was to adolescence. It captures the Mid-90's 20-Something experience without getting mired in its clichés, like a bad episode of "Friends." Its sardonic time capsule should stand the test of time. Even when the particulars of Grunge and Sports Bars are as dead as Zoot Suits and Leapers, you can still feel the timeless emotions of the period through them. There will always be the stupid trends you follow for no reason. The Cool Guys you can't ever believe you thought were cool. The endless routines and rituals you go through waiting for that one minute of connectedness that will show you your real path.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars S/T rocks!, February 19, 2000

By A Customer

Rolling Stone called this album "pop bliss," and they certainly weren't kidding. Ben Folds Five, comprised of piano, bass guitar, and drums, is one of the most original sounds out there, helping to make this certainly one of the best, if not the best CD I own. The first 8 tracks are all light hearted, head bobbin' fun, from the kiss-offish "Philosophy" to "Underground" to "Uncle Walter," a character whom I believe everyone can relate with. The band gets a little more introspective on "Best Imitation of Myself," then slows things down with "Video" and "The Last Polka." The final track, "Boxing," is one of the best songs I have ever heard - period. So, if you want an excellent debut album that you won't want to take out of the CD player for months upon months, I strongly urge you to check this album out, you won't regret it!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Fabulous Album!, January 3, 2003

By	Lauren-Eve Lazar (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

My only complaint about this album is that it took me so long to discover it! I can't bear to think of the years I wasted passing off Ben Folds Five as an average pop band before I actually bothered to go out and buy their albums. Of course, this CD (like any) is not for everyone, but for me, the combination of their unique sound paired with intelligent and witty lyrics set atop catchy yet beautiful melodies makes me want to listen to this album over and over again! This album has all the makings of a great pop record but unlike most 'pop' bands, each member of Ben Folds Five showcases an extraordinary talent on their instrument. This is probably my favourite Ben Folds Five album, although I would also highly reccomend their others 2, especially Whatever and Ever Amen. Ben Folds' solo stuff is good too. As for this album, my favourite songs are Where's Summer B., Best Imitation of Myself, Philosophy, Jackson Cannery, The Last Polka, and Sports & Wine. I realize that is a lot of favourite songs, but this is one of those rare albums that makes it so hard to choose!