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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the finest CDs ever. . ., September 21, 2003
This is easily the finest album that Ben Folds Five ever made. Like many records considered "a Classic," there are few songs that stand alone as being extremely powerful, though as a whole it is a masterpiece. Not that this trio has ever been known for making happy music, but this record is downright somber at times. The tracks are interlaced with one another, with single phrases of one song, being the main subject of the next. Going from track to track there is a coherence seldom found in popular music. While an amazing range of emotions are expressed throughout the album, regret is a central theme. Regretting choices that were made and regretting the choices that passed him by, the character that Ben creates is amazingly introspective. There is little of the sometimes childish finger-pointing that went on over the previous works of Ben Folds Five. The second track, "Don't Change Your Plans," is an amazing self contradiction in that the song's main character is in love with a woman whom he credits with saving him, but he is unwilling to "move to L.A." to be with her. He says he must be "why my heart says I outta be, it often makes no sense in fact, I never understand these things I feel. . . I love you, goodbye." "Mess" is probably the best song on the record. He goes over all the things that he did to ruin a past relationship and commits himself to do things differently in his new relationship. This is probably one of the most lyrically strong songs on the record. "There are rooms in this house, that I don't open any more . . . dusty books and pictures on the floor. . ." "Magic" is striking in its arrangement that smacks slightly of Simon and Garfunkel. "Army" is funny, not in a laughter sense, but in a facetious way. "Your Redneck Past" is born straight from a phrase in "Army" about his "redneck past nipping at [his] heels." "Your Most Valuable Possession" is a spoken word song that is recorded as if were on his answering machine. It is absolutely wonderful, and the music behind the words is rather cool. The last three songs pull the album to a close that gives the album a very complete feel. "Regrets" culminates a life that was full of missed opportunity as laziness. So many things left undone. "Jane" is a good song that talks to a girl who is in a position to make better choices than had been discussed over the rest of the album. "Lullaby" is a great end to the record. It is a bit campy, and not wonderful, but it makes for a great closing. Reinhold Messner is peppered with rather impressive orchestral accompaniment that is not pretentious or over produced like much of today's pop music. This album stands as the best effort in the Ben Folds catalog and stands firm as a record that could be placed along side of records like Pink Floyds "Dark Side of the Moon" and "the Wall" as albums best listened to as a whole. epc
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music for deep people, December 27, 1999
This, musically and lyrically, is one of the best albums I have had the pleasure of listening to. This is the album that got me hooked on Ben Folds Five. I think that after the success of "Whatever And Ever, Amen" and with all it's energy, the group decided that it was time to do what they've always wanted to do: create a lush, full, and orchestral album that would make it's listeners feel the raw power and emotion that is Ben Folds Five. Unlike their last album, which was full of anger, bitterness, and sadness (and much more energy), the boys went a bit more underground and mellow. Despite all of that, they didn't lose their sense of humo(u)r (i.e. "Redneck Past," "Army'). Other gems on the album include Darren Jesse's masterpiece "Magic" and the meloncholy "Don't Change Your Plans." I loved this album after the first listen and I continue to adore it. Unfortunately, the album hasn't been embraced very well by either the public or hardcore Ben Folds Five fans. It's unfortunate because this isn't just mindless rock. It's real music. These guys have brought back the art of storytelling in music and I hope that they continue to create music worth listening to.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Overly splendid & sparkling, March 10, 2003
Because their 1997 smash Whatever & Ever Amen was so well taken, this CD sometimes falls under the category of `bad follow-ups' to reviewers. But despite those inane allegations, I think it is safe to say The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner is Ben Folds Five's best album ever. It's favorably intelligent, it's comical, and musically it's one of the most astonishing feats in alternative piano-based music. So in turn, it's very hard to find a low point on the CD; since all the songs are impressive, memorable tunes that will easily suit your musical fancy. If you liked their legendary "Brick" and/or Whatever & Ever Amen, then this release will be just as (if not more) enjoyable for you. And for those of you who wonder what the title represents, BBF inserts an "about the title" section into the CD's booklet; where they indicate their (genuinely spot on) intentions with its outwardly strange name. Anyway, here is a short summary of each of the 11 songs.The CD starts with a delightful "Narcolepsy", which is a 5-minute look into the mind of a narcoleptic man. The song's lyrics are limited (mostly) to the consequences of the sleeping disorder. Yet that's not what makes the song so good. The music is what does that; you really have to hear it to believe it. As far as "Don't Change Your Plans", it might be slightly overrated. Although it is still very good--and was a single--there are other songs on the album that definitely outdo it. Still, it is a step up lyrically from track one. On "Mess", singer Ben Folds takes the blame for the mess he'd made. He cites `and I don't believe in god / so I can't be saved'. Funny, but clever at the same time. "Magic" is a slow song that features some of the best use of the piano on the CD. The lyrics are fabulous, and the `sha-la-la-la-la-la-la' chants are something we don't often see from Ben Folds Five. "Hospital Song" is good, but a little short; as it fails to grow into a real song. I'm not sure if it was intended to be that way, but even so it has some good `pessimistic-of-doctors' lyric. My favorite song on the album is "Army"; which is a first-hand tale of Ben and his thoughts of entering the armed forces. Its start kind of says it all: `well I thought about the army / dad said: son you're fxcking high'. It may be shallow to say this track is the best; since it has more of the fast-piano sound BBF fans are used to. But either way it is an excellent song with some captivating and fun lyrics. The infamous "Army" leads us into "Your Redneck Past". This song has some of the most outlandish words that range from asking if we'd rather be Billy Idol or Kool Moe Dee to the French saying of `I am American / please cook my steak again'. It almost makes Jeff Foxworthy seem dense or even ill-advised (though not really). "Your Most Valuable Possession" and "Regrets" are probably the two low points of the CD. "Y.M.V.P." is of spoken word, but does manage to parade the fact that our most valuable possession is our mind. You might like "Regrets"; it's lyrics are good, but they just don't flow well with its melody. I cannot say it's a bad song, however I can't say it's a favorite either. Next, I think there's a lot of Ben Folds Five fans who'd say "Jane" is one of the band's hidden gems. And I can't disagree with that. It's an intriguing poem-like ballad that has optimistic principles and hints of true love. I like it, but there's a chance you might miss the point. Besides "Army", my favorite song on the CD is "Lullabye"; as Ben Folds illustrates perfection with a piano. Its validity or relativity to us may be misplaced, but it is a brilliant song. It's (on the surface) about an overnight flight from nowhere to nowhere smaller. I think some of the words are mind-blowing, as Ben Folds Five digs deep for some imagery we don't normally see from them. I particularly love the sanguine line `let the moonlight take the lid off your dreams'. In the end, it's an epic closer that could easily become your favorite song of the album. As a final point, The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner is probably Ben Folds Five's best release; which I'd hinted to before. They use the always-loveable piano; as well as instruments such as the cello, violin, flugelhorn, and the saxophone (primarily on "Army") to make some of the best music of the late 90's. I don't think there is any question if you like Ben Folds Five that you'll like this CD. Again, many people may see this CD as a step down from Whatever & Ever Amen, but in time I think that myth will be put to rest. Every song on the album is good (if not excellent), and even the low points aren't really low points. You must have this disc if you are a fan of Ben Folds Five or of good music. It may not go down as, but certainly is, an amazing achievement in modern music history. The music is awesome; Ben Folds' lyrics are sparkling visions that will flow with ease through your mind and from beginning to end in your CD player.
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Ben Folds shares his favorite music with Amazon customers. See all artists' picks on our Music You Should Hear page.
by Ben Folds Five 
