Release Date: 26 April, 2005
Audio CD
Tracks
- Bastard
- You To Thank
- Jesusland
- Landed
- Gracie
- Trusted
- Give Judy My Notice
- Late
- Sentimental Guy
- Time
- Prison Food
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Rating 4.0
It's no "Suburbs," but still quality Folds!This is probably the Ben Folds solo album that sounds the most like a Ben Folds Five album, right down to the new trio lineup, generous amounts of vocal harmonies, and studio banter. His utterly brilliant, no-holds-barred solo debut "Rockin' the Suburbs" definitely stands alone, and upon listening to "Songs for Silverman," it's pretty clear Ben doesn't want to try and top it. Instead, we get a collection of pleasant piano-laden tunes, which isn't a bad thing, but after the varied eclectisism of his online EP releases, you would think some of that might have transpired onto the LP. The only EP track that makes it onto "Silverman," "Give Judy My Notice," is also the most basic of the original EP compositions (why didn't he put "Cooler Than You" or "You've Got to Learn" on here instead?)
I ought to start talking about the positives of this album before I start getting bombarded with "not helpful" votes. :-) The songs themselves are excellent. Some of the more complex pieces like "Time" and "Late" merit repeated listenings. Opening track "Bastard" is one of the best tracks Folds has ever written. The aforementioned "Give Judy My Notice" gets a much-needed editing job, as well as the addition of slide guitar and beautiful background vocals. The only problem is the sequencing of the album, with the most immediate tracks kicking off the album and nothing in the second half seems to serve as a proper ending, unlike the one-two punch of "Fired" and "The Luckiest" off "Suburbs." For "Silverman," we're given "Time," a beautiful number featuring Al Yankovic on background vocals, and "Prison Food," which doesn't really leave you with much. At least you can always go back to the start and listen to "Bastard" again.
I also want to talk about the special edition package and enclosed DVD. The packaging is very beautiful, the photography well-done, and the DVD was fun to watch. Unfortunately, the "making-of" documentary didn't seem like much more than funny studio footage and some live recordings. I didn't really get much of a glimpse at how the record was made (Who is Silverman anyway?)
I'm sorry if it sounds like I completely bashed this album. I tried not to. It's really good and a worthwhile disc for any fan of Folds or piano-pop. But, look for any of his EPs while you're at it. They're excellent.Defective CDBought this disc at Best Buy. It did not play in my cd player. I have heard from many people that it will not play for them either. I would like to give a better review but I have not heard the album and probably never will. Pity, I enjoyed everything that Ben Folds has done up until this point.Good solid BFI'm a big Ben Folds Five fan, and although I thought his "Rockin' the Suburbs" outing had some magic on it, I can't say EVERYthing the guy does is gold. I dig Folds mostly when he's letting his piano chops and his acerbic wit fly untethered a bit more than he does on this disc. Don't get me wrong, there are moments of both (the wit and the chops) on this disc, but just not as much as I enjoyed on the first two BF5 efforts. I play keyboards a bit, and a lot of these tunes sound "safer" than BF has done in the past, and there's a distinct contrast between the passages where he and his "drums and bass" hired guns let loose, and when the playing seems rather calculated and reserved, mainly for the purpose of supporting the song. It seems to me that in the past, he was able to do both... let loose AND support the song (maybe because the songs were so bitingly ironic AND energetic).
Regardless, there are some really nice pieces on here. BF is a little older and mature, a doting parent, and it comes across in the compositions. This direction started a bit on the "Reinhold Messner" disc and has continued through "Rockin' the Suburbs" and finally to this disc.
All in all, a very good disc, but I admit I was hoping for a bit more of the reckless abandon from the earlier BF5 efforts. If you liked "Rockin the Suburbs" this one delivers just as nicely, and given the hired bass and drums assistance, when it rocks, it even rocks a little bit more than "Suburbs". I think BF was enjoying having a trio to jam with on this (compared to the last studio effort), and it shows, at least on the passages where they DO jam a bit. |
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