Ben Folds - Way to Normal
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Free Music Notes for Way to Normal
Free Music Review: Listen to it more than once!
Hit: 5 Stars
Man, everyone here is saying "Ugh, I listened to this once and threw it out, it was so bad." Well...there's your problem! Are you really such an impatient, important individual that you simply CAN'T spare the time for a second run-through? Because if you're anything like me, you rarely get all the meaning and appreciation in the first listen.
I loved this album, I really did. I'm kind of boggling at all the people who say it doesn't measure up to "Songs for Silverman," because of all his albums (both solo and BF5) that's the only album I don't have in its entirety on my iPod. It's not a bad album; far from it. It's just not as great as what I expect from Ben.
"Hiroshima" is a great start to the album, a big concert number, and to all the people who said they felt it was an inside joke they didn't get--how hard is it to figure it out? Listen to the song! "Dr. Yang" was one I didn't like so much the first time, but love now, after a few tries. It's a lot of fun, great piano, great singing. "Frown Song" is one of my favorites on the album--hilarious, pointed, and absolutely rockin' with that key-tar. "You Don't Know Me" is another favorite; Regina Spektor's voice meshes PERFECTLY with Ben's, and the arrangement itself is gutsy and gorgeous! "Cologne" is beautiful, especially if you're fortunate enough to see it live, and those of you who complained about the diaper line are missing the point; it's a specific example of a funny little thing they would've talked about and marveled over together, and now they can't. "Errant Dog" is probably my least favorite, not because it's bad, but it just doesn't quite measure up to the others. Still very funny and catchy, though. "Free Coffee" has some awesome effects produced by putting cans of Altoids in the piano! "Bitch Went Nuts" is super catchy and has a very funny intro, and it's a good "angry song." "Brainwascht" has a fantastic beat and melody, and the lyrics never fail to crack me up--I wonder who it's about? "Effington" has some of the best piano-playing on the disc, the kind of solo that just amazes me with his skill. And "Kylie from Connecticut" may be my favorite--beautiful, poignant, wistful, and refreshingly different, particularly in the middle. It reminds me, just topically, of Rockin' the Suburbs' "Annie Waits."
So in short, give it a second chance! You might like it better the next time around.
Free Music Review: Folds' Originality Shines Through Once Again
Hit: 5 Stars
The catchy hooks are there. They're just harder to find. I'll be honest, I was a little shell-shocked after the first listen, but that's only because the album throws so much at you the first time that you're just trying to keep up with it and the core melodies can get lost. So I listened to it again. And again. And again. And now I'm completely hooked. Because of the producion and initial abrasive nature of some of the songs, it takes maybe a couple of listents to really get into it it (since there's just so much good stuff going on it's hard to keep track of everything!).
Don't let the somewhat negative reviews deter you. These are from people who are criticising Ben for not being the Ben THEY want him to be. He can't keep churning out the same stuff he's been writing since the early 90's. It's a testament to his skill as a songwriter that he can keep on putting out original albums, while still maintaning that trademark Ben Folds quality.
With that being said, don't think that Way To Normal still isn't Ben Folds, because it is. Songs For Silverman was nothing like Rockin' The Suburbs (and it got its fair share of negative reviews as well from selfish fans), and Way To Normal is nothing like either of them. And for that I'm thankful, as Ben is truly one of the few artists out there who can be increasingly original in each of his albums without sacraficing core quality.
Songs like Effington, You Don't Know Me, and Kylie From Connecticut are just full to the brim with creativity. Dr. Yang will have you tapping your foot along, and it's also an impressive showcase of Ben's different vocal talents. Brainwascht has an extremely catchy vocal line. Cologne is achingly beautiful.
It's my guess that many of these negative reviews came from people who listened to the album once, decided it wasn't the type of Ben Folds they wanted to hear, and proceeded to write an angry review. I'll bet that they're eating their words after listening to it more. This is more great work from Ben Folds, and if you buy it and stick with it, you won't be disappointed.
Free Music Review: God Is laughing at us and our football team
Hit: 5 Stars
Just so you know where I'm coming from there hasn't been anything that Ben Folds has released that I have disliked. For people that have never liked him first off you're crazy but this album won't change your opinion. If you're just a Ben Folds Five fan then the same is also true. However if you were let down by his 2nd solo album Songs For Silverman, because of it's somber mood this is a return for the most part to his light-hearted, fun-loving self.
This album is somewhat of a concept album...I use the term concept album very loosely though. The concept is a satire on spoiled rich people(as the cover indicates). Starting with the opening track Hiroshima where sings about people watching him fall down on stage like it's the end of the world. Dr Yang is send up on kooky doctors (that the rich go to). However, I think the heart of the concept is in the third song The Frown Song which comments on people who are generally unpleasant to everyone around them with the great lyric"Rock on. rock on with your fashionable frown...and spread the love around". The are other songs that play in to the concept but I'll leave it at that. Because as always with Ben Folds this album is really song driven and some of the greatest songs on this album don't serve the concept. Cologne is a beautiful under stated love song done in the poignant quirky way only Ben Folds does. Kylie From Connecticut seems to be The Ascent Of Stan meets Eleanor Rigby a sublime bittersweet ballad. And Of course this album has You Don't Know Me which might end up being Folds's biggest hit since Brick...a very catchy song that will be hard to get out of your head once you hear it.
As others have mentioned there are also "fake" versions of some of these songs and some of those songs are better than the ones on the album (particularly Bitch Went Nutz is better than Bitch Went Nuts) so if you care be on the look out for those songs as Ben has said he will release them as future B-sides.
Free Music Review: Ben Folds is goofy
Hit: 5 Stars
So if you can't take some tongue-in-cheek comedy with your music, you probably won't like him!
That said, give this album a chance. It'll infect your brain eventually.
I remember getting the self-titled Ben Folds Five album back in high school after hearing "Underground" on the radio. I seriously cringed listening to Philosophy. It just sounded so lame! I cursed myself for spending the $10 and didn't listen again for a few months.
But eventually I played the album again. And again, and again, and then I recorded it (and WAEA) to a cassette that pretty much never left my car's stereo.
That's what this album is like. It took me a few months to really warm up to it, but every song is amazing. I don't even think "Errant Dog" is a metaphor; it completely describes the way I feel about my own dog, down to sometimes wishing I was a lesbian. And "The Frown Song" is exactly what I want to scream at people who insist on telling everyone else all the ways they shouldn't be having fun.
"You Don't Know Me" is damn near the perfect pop song, too. My friends demand that I play it sometimes just because the hook won't get out of their heads. Tim and Eric made the music video for it! It's brilliant! And thank you, Mr. Folds, for getting me into Regina Spektor's music.
Based on what I've seen and heard, I'm pretty sure Ben Folds is some kind of enlightened Buddha-figure trying to get us mere mortals to laugh at life again. Don't resist it, people, just let it happen!
Free Music Review: Give This One a Chance
Hit: 5 Stars
Until I had listened to them for a while, some of my all-time favorite albums were initially disappointing. Way to Normal is turning out to be one of those albums.
A somewhat recent convert to Ben Folds (with the Five and otherwise), I have come to appreciate his gifts for melody and storytelling. And these gifts continue to be apparent on Way to Normal.
Highlights include "Brainwascht," "Colgne," and "Effington." Still, let it be known that the remainder of the album is just as creatively strong, with an interesting display of styles and instrumentation. And, of course, in the tradition of Ben Folds, it's fun and funny!
If you are able, find and acquire the "fake" songs that Folds "leaked" prior to releasing this album. They - about five of them - are distinct variants of the songs that appear here, but are just as good as anything else he has written. Also, look for the song "Way to Normal," which he recorded in the studio, but did not include on the album (but opens his live performances with). Very cool song!
So, if you're still on the fence about buying the album, give it a shot...in the long run, you won't be disappointed!