Customer Reviews

Ben Folds Five

5 star:		(102)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

I love all sorts of music-- from Daft Punk and Basement Jaxx, to Dave Matthews and Jon Mayer, to Sum 41 and Queens of the Stone Age, to Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, to Fatboy Slim and DJ Shadow, to Ella Fitzgearld and Norah Jones, to Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and beyond. But this is my favorite. Of EVERYTHING. In the whole world. Ben Folds Five was an amazing band, and to this day I internally weep at the fact that they are no longer together, because though Folds himself is a fabulous solo performer, the music is always stronger when performed with all the instruments intended to be used in the songs. But if you are only going to buy one Ben Folds or BFF cd, this should be it. It makes you smile, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry, it makes you think. But most of all, it makes you happy-- to know that in this day and age musical prodigies do still exist.

I followed the popular path of buying an artist's (here, BFF) latest CD (Unauthorized Biography...) and progressing backward in time until I came to the first CD (this self-titled album). What a mistake. Don't get me wrong, I continue to listen to the other BFF CDs just as religiously, but I must say that this CD is by far my favorite. Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that it is kind of different than Folds's other albums--here he exhibits his skill at banging out rockin' chords with relatively simple lyrical accompaniment, as opposed to the thoughtful arpeggios on Unauthorized Biography.... Suffice to say, this CD demonstrates Folds's ability to make piano-pop rock. If you enjoy, play, or just have looked at a piano before in your life, give this album a chance (note: the best song, in my opinion, on the CD, The Last Polka, is not available for listening online--take my word for it and BUY THIS CD).

After pretty much wearing the bottom off my "Whatever and Ever Amen" cd, I started looking around for another Ben Folds Five cd to keep me busy (this was before Reinhold came out... personally I don't like that cd at all, with exception to Don't Change Your Plans, but that's a different review altogether)... Anyway, I did some online scouting and came up with this self-titled cd. I knew no songs on it AT ALL... But still, I picked up a copy, figuring that BF5 couldn't make a bad cd (once again, Reinhold...). Well, not only wasn't it a bad cd, it soon replaced "Whatever..." as my favorite cd. I'd personally like to take an opportunity to thank the band for keeping me happy for a couple years... And also, I'd like to reccomend every track, really, although "Video", "The Last Polka", and "Where's Summer B?" are my personal favorites of today... If you've never heard Ben Folds Five before, or if you are an old diehard who happened to miss their first cd, I suggest you purchase a copy!

Not only will I say that this is the best of Ben Folds or Ben Folds Five, it's the best of all the albums I own or have heard. It's certainly my favorite. The songs are really catchy but not in that "I want to die because I can't get this song out of my head" sort of way. Sometimes I have to restrain myself to keep from singing along at the top of my lungs (not a pretty thing to hear). And when I play it in the car, people on the road probably think I'm crazy. You can't help but get into it.

But you may have to give it a chance. I didn't care for it too much at first and thought it was inferior to Whatever and Ever Amen. But before I knew it I couldn't stop playing it, and it soon became my favorite album.

Video is probably the best track and is reason enough to get the album.

This CD is an incredible wonder, from a band who was underappreciated by all the fans of "Brick", which is by far from the Five's best song. I heard "underground" on the radio sometime in 96 and tracked them down for the next year. Thanks to a helpful lyric by Adam Duritz of Counting Crows ("I got Ben Folds on my radio right now"--Monkey, from Recovering the Satellites) my friend decided if Ben was good enough for Adam, he was good enough for us too, and bought the CD having never before heard it. When I realized I had found the band behind "underground" my friend must have thought I was having a seizure.

It took me a week for him to let me borrow it. I still remember sitting in bed trying to go to sleep as I listened, and being absolutely still so that I could hear the lyrics. By the time I reached "The Last Polka" and "Boxing" I was so far from sleep I was practically stuck to the ceiling. Adam may have made a mistake, as my favorite band soon switched to Ben and crew.

The reasons Ben Folds Five are so great:

1. The call themselves five, when there are only three. (Ha!) 2. They have no lead guitar, and head out with a totally original line up of only piano, drums, and bass. 3. The lyrics are golden-way too quotable. 4. The swing songs (Sports and Wine, Steven's Last Night in Town) are as impressive as the ballads (Boxing, Selfless, Mess, etc.), a feat rarely accomplished. 5. Ben's voice could tame a German Shepard.

If you have never experienced Ben Folds Five, this CD is the least professional (concerning studio recording quality), but also the most hearful, and my personal favorite.

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!

One of my favorite pop albums of all time, and I enjoy this album even more than their more well-known 1997 album "Whatever & Ever Amen". The songs feel different from each other (the funkadelic edge of "Jackson Cannery" to the classic pop sounds of "Philosophy" and "Uncle Walter"), yet they sound enough the same to know what album you're listening to.

"Underground" and "Video" are also standout tracks on this CD. The former delivers the joys of alternative rock with an upbeat sound, while the latter a slower but very catchy look into the future when "we live in a video".

If you're looking for a sunny pop CD with excellent musicianship, look no further than right here.

If you haven't heard this album you don't know Ben Folds as a musician, simply because you can't start in the middle. I knew of this album when it was first released, can we say hooked. I am writing this because i just read some over-pretentious reveiw by some guy who thinks he knows this album. EVERY SINGLE SONG is excellent, one of the only albums i can put in my car and not take it out for a week. It covers the gambit of feeling, good times, somber times, bad times(though not a lot), and just plain fun. Whatever you do HEAR this album. Don't just listen, HEAR IT!!!! There is a difference and if you don't know the difference you don't deserve this album. Or maybe you should buy this album and learn what hearing music really is. To close, in my personal opinion Ben Folds is one of the best artists i have ever heard(not open for discussion). Buy as much of his music as you possibly can. Buy it all.