Ben Folds - Ben Folds Live
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Free Music Notes for Ben Folds Live
Free Music Review: Ben Folds - Great Live Album
Hit: 5 Stars
On Fold's first live album he takes a stripped down approach with no backing band. It is just Ben and his piano for a solid hour of music from both his Ben Folds Five and solo years. Folds is an outstanding live performer and it is obvious from this recording that he is able to carry an entire audience on his shoulders for a whole concert without the help of anyone else. In fact the audience serves as his backing vocalist, string and horn section on several of the tunes (You would have to hear it to understand). The album also features a DVD of some of the performances on the album which further enhances the Folds live experience. The majority of the songs featured here are from the Ben Folds Five era, with only 4 tracks from the excellent first solo album "Rockin' The Suburbs". Since I do not have all of Ben Folds Five early albums I found the tracks that he picked from them to all are excellent. Fold's piano playing is terrific throughout and it sounds like he was having loads of fun with the material. Fold's has often been compared to early Elton John. On "Live" Ben throws in a cover of John's "Tiny Dancer" which comes across as good, if not better than the original. The only other previously unreleased number is a short but good one called "Rock This Bitch". It is pretty hilarious and shows of Fold's always wry sense of humor. This album kind of reminds me of Warren Zevon's solo live disc "Learning To Flinch" in it's style and performance. Really everything about this disc is impressive, and it would serve as a very good introduction to Fold's body of work for anyone looking to explore what he does.Free Music Review: Not the same... Better!
Hit: 5 Stars
Ben Folds is a very talented musician, and an especially good piano player. If he and Billy Joel got into a battle of the pianos, well, Billy would probably win, but it would be a close match the whole way. And Ben would get a lot of points for shear forcefulness of playing. I went with some friends to his concert at Mississippi Nights in St. Louis this past summer, and Ben was on fire. When he told us that he was recording the concert for a live album I was, needless to say, excited. And although ultimately none of the songs on the album or the DVD were taken from that concert, it does not lessen the awesomeness of the album. Some people are saying he should have used recordings with his backup band from the RTS tour. Just download some of those recordings sometime. Download movies taken from those performances. And then watch the Ben Folds Five sessions at West 54th DVD and the DVD that comes with this and compare the performances. Despite what other reviewers have said, Ben definitely seems more in his element on this album than he did with his RTS backup band. It's not Ben Folds Five, but it's close. On this album's version of Not The Same, even though the song was written for Rockin' the Suburbs, you can almost hear Darren Jesse and Robert Sledge chiming in. In short, I love this album, and I can't wait to see Ben in concert again. Goodnight.Free Music Review: Thank you Napster (and Ben)!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great album. Yes, it is just Ben and his piano. But the performance is truly impressive, and at many points you will be amazed at the talent that pours through those keys. But let's talk about that bonus DVD. It's not that spectacular, and I probably won't watch it much. But I just loved getting a free DVD. It shows that record companies must now give the consumer much more to keep our business. Instead of simply downloading the songs (which I have to admit I sometimes do), I purchased the CD. I did that partly because I respect the artist and want to support him, and partly because I get a free DVD in the process.
The bottom-line is that we can all thank Napster for this. The record companies now have to think of clever ways of marketing new CDs so we all don't simply download the songs for free.
The fact that they can sell a CD plus a DVD for the same price as a plain old CD should make everyone suspicious that we have been getting ripped off by record companies for years. And perhaps we're getting a little shafted by the DVD industry too. Oh well. At least the tide is turning a bit towards the consumer, and we can get a little more for our money for a change. The CD/DVD package is hopefully a hint at the way things will be in the future.
Thanks Ben.
Free Music Review: One of the Greatest Live Performers of Our Time
Hit: 5 Stars
Words can't even describe Ben Folds' talent on the piano but this is just about the closest you'll come to fully grasping it. On this compilation, Folds performs both songs from his solo effort as well as older pieces from Ben Folds Five CD's. Although the bass and drums of Darren Jessee and Robert Sledge are nonexistent here, Folds amazingly fills these voids with the presence of just a piano. No song on the entire album consists of anything more than just Folds on the piano, yet nothing is lacking in richness. On two tracks (Army and Not the Same), Folds brings the crowd into the picture as they help to complete missing elements of these tracks with their voices. The crowd sounds great at these moments, it's as if every fan knows Folds' music well enough to the point where the crowd's fill-ins sound as if they were meant to be there to begin with. There's also some great humor on this album, especially in "One Down".
All in all, buy this CD for some unbelievable piano solos, a great tracklist, and a voice that sounds virtually the same as it does on his recorded CD's. I had the privilege of seeing Folds perform live last week and can't wait to see him again.
Free Music Review: Jaw Droppingly Amazing
Hit: 5 Stars
Ben Folds has always been a favorite of mine. He is catchy and very talented at crafting melodies on the piano. As a musician myself, I can say that his songs are very melodic and enjoyable. I am able too play many of his songs on the piano because my egarness to play them. they are amazing and relaxing or happy. Some even being humorous. This album is Ben Folds at his best. He has recrafted his songs from Ben Folds Five and his solo album, making them more extravigant. When I first bought the album and found out that it was only the piano and him, i though i had wasted 20 bucks. but i gave it a chance and it is my favorite cd to date. Ben folds has added the bass line into teh piano so it seems like a band is playing without their percussion. It is great, all of the classic songs and unreleased ones given to you on a single cd and dvd. My friend only likes rap, yet i introduced Ben Folds to him and he loves him. This friend is pure underground hip-hop and he likes a pianoplayer. This gives you a clear sign that you need to cop this album right now. (also watch the dvd 30mins of his actual concert including the unfrogetable philosophy performance)