The Bens [Single]

Ben Kweller, Ben Folds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 31, 2003)
• Original Release Date: December 31, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0009FTH96
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,161 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2004 5 Song EP offered on Ben Folds' web site. 1. Just Pretend 2. Xfire 3. Stop! 4. Bruised

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely likeable EP from Ben Folds and Friends, August 7, 2007

By 

J. Wade (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bens (Audio CD)

Although there are only four songs on this EP, they are all four very nice and catchy tunes from Ben Folds, Ben Kweller, and Ben Lee. My favourite is "Bruised" which is mostly Ben Folds. It isn't a world changing heavy song ripe with meaning, but is an infectious pop song about the perils of love. If you listen to this song a few times, you'll find it hard to get out of your head.

"Just Pretend" is an acoustic song with sweet harmonies quite reminiscent of early Crosby, Stills and Nash. It is further evidence that these guys should indeed do a full album together.

"Xfire" (Crossfire) is an electronic song markedly different from the others, and reminded me of some of the better hits of the 1980s (think - Gary Numan - "Cars")

"Stop" is the odd track but still a good one as it takes the listener on a rollercoaster ride with the tempo shifting wildly from slow to fast before coming to an abrupt halt.

Overall, a must have for any fan of Ben Folds.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bens Ep review, July 21, 2007

By 

B. K. Helton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bens (Audio CD)

This is a great EP if you are a fan of all of or any of The Bens (Ben Folds, Ben Kweller, and Ben Lee I believe is the third). It is a lot of fun. Track two (XFire) makes me laugh everytime I listen to it. I do wish there were more songs, though. It would have been nice if they would have at least done one more song to end the EP that was like the song they wrote to start the EP.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nothing extremely memorable on this disk., January 29, 2007

By 

Tico J. Punk (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bens (Audio CD)

I love Ben Folds. He may just be my favorite current song writer. Lennon/McCartney and Brian Wilson being my all time faves. I'm a little familiar with Kweller and Lee, the other two Bens, but neither of them ever thrilled me. This disk sounds like they had a good time making it, but not like a lot of thought was put into the songs. None of the tracks are as good as Ben Folds alone, and I'd gather that both Kweller and Lee are better when they are left to do their own thing without the "supergroup" lineup. I've had this for about a month and am only listening to it for the 3rd or 4th time. Again, not horrible songs, not unlistenable, but nothing here is very memorable to me. Possibly worth the 7 or 8 bucks the disk costs, but I expected a little more from a "supergroup" outing like this. Maybe for me, it just can't possibly live up to the kind of songwriter Ben Folds has become. Definitely feels like he's just hanging around with these other Bens killin' time.