Supersunnyspeedgraphic - The LP

Ben Folds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 24, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000I2KNUC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,244 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Once you figure out where the title comes from, it makes perfect sense. Supersunnyspeedgraphic is a convenient collection assembled primarily from limited edition EPs Super D, Sunny 16, and Speed Graphic. The 12-track release, which follows Songs for Silverman and the Over the Hedge soundtrack, also culls from The Bens EP with Bens Kweller and Lee (a word to the expectant mothers out there: if you want your son to become an alternative pop star, just name him Benjamin). Longtime listeners know what to expect from Folds--Joe Jackson-esque vocals, clever wordplay, and tuneful melodies that rely more on keyboards than strings. For the uninitiated, it all probably sounds pretty commercial, but there's some risqué material here. As with Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman, who excelled at enveloping edgy lyrics in radio-ready trappings, there are a few numbers on this rerecorded, remixed, and remastered disc that won't be rocking the airwaves anytime soon, like the piano man's stately version of Dr. Dre's "Bitches Ain't S**t." Depending on your point of view, the online sensation is either admirably ironic or unalterably offensive. Folds's more straightforward covers of the Cure's "In Between Days" and the Darkness's "Get Your Hands Off My Woman" are unlikely to ruffle as many feathers, but they're a better fit for his jaunty power pop-meets-new wave style. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Appeasing Gem of Underground Hits, January 1, 2007

By 

Joseph Schlegel (Provo, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Supersunnyspeedgraphic - The LP (Audio CD)

This collection of songs very easily could have never seen the light of day, having been available already on four separate online-only releases. However, it is a great assistance to connoisseurs of fine music that this work is now available in one easily-accessible disc. Supersunnyspeedgraphic represents the creative work of Ben Folds over the last few years in a better manner than could have been done otherwise, and it fits perfectly alongside his other flawless productions. The album contains tracks that are well-written lyrically, as well as a number of songs displaying masterful musical technique. The album is worth purchasing for the cover of Dr. Dre's "B****es Ain't S***" alone, but you'll be equally surprised by the number of fine quality tracks that exist in addition to the slow rap extravaganza.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth It, December 22, 2006

By 

Daniel E. Fox (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Supersunnyspeedgraphic - The LP (Audio CD)

I've been a rabid fan since Whatever and Ever Amen (Ben Folds Five). Here's the thing: you COULD go and buy the 3 EP's, and I have all of them, but I also bought this (Supersunnyspeedgraphic) and believe it or not I am glad I did. Unlike another reviewer here, I actually thought the remixing and addition of bass and extra piano and some other instrumentation really helped most of these songs, gave them a more "full," professional sound. And I gotta say, as a whole this album is much more fun than Songs for Silverman, which should have been a lot better given how good these Internet-only EP's were. Anyhow, as you can tell, I will buy anything and everything with Ben's name on it, and I found enough good stuff on this one to justify the purchase. Unlike others, I love "All You Can Eat"'s social commentary. The Dr. Dre cover, of course, is hilarious and memorable, while the Cure cover is near perfect. Buy this, it's a lot of fun, and even though the other reviewers are right about the album feeling disjointed, song for song it's better than Silverman....that's gotta be worth something.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Surprise, December 27, 2006

By 

Alain Blanc "fairykarma" (Kuching, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Supersunnyspeedgraphic - The LP (Audio CD)

The first couple songs are a bit mediocre on the first go. However the rest of the album makes up for it, beginning with the infamous B.tches Ain't ..... I outgrew rap a long time ago, but hearing this song was refreshing. It's amazing how alternative rock can make such a decadent song sound so good. Along with BAS, the remaining pieces are worth listening to more than once. I must have listened to this album about 10 times consecutively. If you're down on your luck and just want to relax to laid-back humorous and inspirational music, just put in Ben Folds.