Ben Folds - Ben Folds Live
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Free Music Notes for Ben Folds Live
Free Music Review: Soloist effort that truly rocks
Hit: 5 Stars
Being one of the biggest Ben Folds Five fans out there, I am still getting over the fact that the band is defunct, but the heart of that great group remains intact through the talented frontman: Ben Folds.Folds is a very gifted pianist and lyricist, and his solo effort of a year ago (Rockin' the Suburbs) was one of the finest albums of the last ten years... and this live compilation of the "Ben Folds and a Piano" tour is no exception.
In this live disc, we get to see Ben at his lyrical and musical best. Yes, the CD is chock-full of slower tunes, but with the addition of some of the classic harder Ben Folds Five tunes: "My Philosophy," "One Angry Dwarf...," "Army," and "Jane," this album should please all types of Ben Folds fans, from the diehards to the newbies.
One special note: Ben does the greatest cover of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" on this album... and the price of the CD/DVD is worth it just for this song... so you can only imagine how good the rest of the CD/DVD is with all the other songs included... go out and buy this disc, I assure you, you will love it!
Free Music Review: just like being there...again
Hit: 5 Stars
A little bit of country, a little bit of rock 'n roll, a little bit of sarcasm, a little bit of private joke, a whole lot of awesome singing and piano playing. A live album as a live album should be---audience participation, stories and amazing talent, all showcased by Mr. Folds. Unfortunately, he didn't include any tracks from the show I saw (Philadelphia), but hearing the disc takes me back just the same. The material really does span his career and is worth every penny. Tiny dancer is a total homage to Elton John (or the cast of Almost Famous); The Luckiest is one of the most poignant love songs; the piano on Narcolepsy is amazing; audience as horn section on Army can't be beat; and the insider joke of One Down is too much! Plus Not the Same, Zak and Sara, Philosophy...and whatever you don't see on the cd case is most likely on the bonus dvd. The photos on the cd insert add another dimension as you get a rare glimpse of Ben's kids, wife, friends, and again, sense of humor. A must have for any Ben Folds fan, anyone who is a fan of the other great piano men, with a dash of humor, or anyone who likes really great music.Free Music Review: Um...WOW!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is by far one of the best live shows on disc, ever (I would place it with Eric Claptons unplugged performance in terms of caliber of material). The tracks miss nothing for being performed live by Ben alone instead of a band. Actually it works to the contrary: some of the songs offered are improved by being done in a more intimate way. Emaline is one especially memorable song that seems to have gained by it's removal of the other parts. Fred Jones Pt2, with the surprise appearance of John from Cake, has a resonance that leaps from the speakers and gives the song an immediacy that most other artists can only wish for. The Last Polka rounds out the range that Ben has on this cd; somehow he manages to create the illusion that all the pieces of this song are there, though it is only him and a piano.If you like Ben Folds (Five), get this. If you don't, and you enjoy all kinds of music or a good performance, get it anyway; you'll be able to appreciate what a talented musician can do.
Free Music Review: Live Performance at its Best
Hit: 5 Stars
If nothing else, Ben Folds is a performer. He is a song writer, lyricist and artist, but he revels in live performance more than anything. When Ben Folds Five toured, their shows were exhilirating, and so were Ben Folds' initial solo tours. But when Ben Folds decided to ditch the backup band and go literally solo (with just his baby grand), it took his music to an new level.I saw three of the shows from this tour, aptly titled "Ben Folds and a Piano", and the final CD production has done the shows justice. On all the tracks, Folds makes up for the lack of a band with just his piano, altering the songs to take on new forms. The result is a stripped down, more raw version that brings out the intensity in even his lightest, most comical songs. Additionally, the packaged DVD gives you a little idea of the way he involved the crowd in the shows.
The album is a must for anyone who missed the tour and would like to get a small experience of Ben Folds in his element.
Free Music Review: Ben Folds Live is a pleasant surprise
Hit: 5 Stars
I went to see Ben Folds with my son and his girlfriend, not knowing exactly what to expect. His show is a marvelous experience and I bought the CD right afterwards. The bonus of being able to really hear the lyrics makes this CD an excellent reminder of his talent and performances.
He uses his occasionally sarcastic wit on several songs (the opener One Angry Dwarf...) is a classic. The narrative tracks, "Army", "Philosophy" and "One Down" are appealing, both lyrically and melodically. The ballads have beautiful lyrics, in particular "Brick" and "The Luckiest". Another song that I think has a lot of substance to it is "Not the Same".
I know that Ben Folds has experimented musically on other CDs, this one is a very good introduction to his style. The only thing that I can fault is that they left off the Ali/Cosell tribute, "Boxing". Add that and this is near perfect.