Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen
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Free Music Notes for Whatever and Ever Amen
Free Music Review: Great Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
You either like Ben Folds Five or you don't. I would say either this album is as good as their first.Free Music Review: And don't forget to give me back my black t-shirt
Hit: 4 Stars
Ben Folds' major label debut was a near perfect zinger of power-pop, influenced by everyone from Elton John to Todd Rundgren to The Raspberries. Smart and nerdy and deftly walking the tightrope between the two extremes, "Whatever and Ever Amen" was a CD that took the starch out of angsty grunge and depressing emo-pop.
Fold's newly minted celebrity is given a revenge-of-the-nerds bashing in "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces," as an Elton-styled piano riff floats along under the lyric "if you really want to see me check the papers and the TV/Look who's telling who what to do." Even nastier in the smackdown dept is "Song For The Dumped," where the jilted Folds gives one of the most riotous kiss-offs in pop history. Since the punch line would get my review booted, I won't repeat it here. Just suffice it to say that every geeky guy that got dumped just as you thought you were king of the world will get a good laugh from this particular song.
But Folds also was developing the serious side that eventually blossomed in full on his terrific "Rockin' the Suburbs." "Whatever and Ever Amen" broke through on the strength of "Brick," which chronicled a crushed boyfriend as he takes his pregnant girlfriend to an abortion clinic. The most amazing thing about "Brick" is its utter lack of judgmental tone. It is a classic, and easily one of the best - if not the most unlikely - hit singles of the 90's.
Folds doesn't always hit the bull's-eye, as "Steven's Last Night In Town" and "Cigarette" show. But for most of the original CD's 12 songs, Folds was showing he could put snap into his eclectic brand of pop. As for the bonus material, well, there was a reason they were B-sides. The bands' run through "Video Killed The Radio Star" is pretty good, but The Flaming Lips cover pales after a few listens. Instrumentals and band conversation do not qualify as a "bonus" to me. And if the best you can add is a non-sense take of "Song For the Dumped," then spare me the added material. It's just a distraction from a really great album. Burn yourself the remaster minus the added tracks. You'll enjoy it more.
Free Music Review: Great album with filler tacked on.
Hit: 4 Stars
This album is considered by a lot of folks to be Ben Folds Five's best album. It certainly was their most commercially successful. Any way you slice it, it's purty darned good. This reissue sounds marginally better than the original release, but the selling point is ostensibly the seven extra tracks that have been included. Well, I'm here to tell you folks that they're not all gold. All of the tracks have been available officially and unofficially for some time and if you're a BFF fan, then most likely you already have them. "Video Killed the Radio Star", "She Don't Use Jelly", and "Air" are decent tracks but the others are strictly for completists only. If you don't already own the album, then by all means pick it up; the original is killer and worth the price alone. If you already have a copy of the original release, then the slight increase in sonic quality and the extra tracks aren't really worth shelling out another $15 to line the pockets of the record company. Go to Ben Folds' website and buy his recent EPs instead. He gets a much bigger cut of the money that way. ;)Free Music Review: A high quality artist
Hit: 4 Stars
Always heard of them, never familiar with them.
Saw them on soundstage (PBS) and was intrigued. Ben Folds is a Billy Joel but with more of a cutting edge. He is a very real, very high quality artist, pianist, singer and songwriter. The band is great, lots of space between the instruments (just like Cream, J H Experience, Police). The main songs are great and the extras also are interesting.
Besides great piano playing, the bass player is great as well. This is the type of band where you'll want all of their cds b/c they are of high quality. Sounds of the Suburbs is also a great cd.
Ben Folds has a solo/live/piano only album w/his best songs but stick with the recorded versions b/c the bass and drums are vital components of those songs.
Free Music Review: Ben Folds! Give me my money back, you bitch!
Hit: 4 Stars
Just kidding! I love this CD! Although the additional content on this reissue content was best saved for a LP cause it's kinda sort of buying a nice steak and getting taffy and cotton candy on there too. If you don't mind skipping the occasional odd track, there are some on there that will blow you away. Take a chance and buy this CD.