Piano man Ben Folds has always defied the conventional by mish-moshing his rhythmic frenzied piano pumping musicianship aboard lyrical wit and a wave of punk anguish. As a result, Folds has earned enough critical acclaim to do helm his own destiny within the music industry.
Over the past few months, cozying up in his personal studio, Folds has recorded and simultaneously released three EP’s; the first two out already and the third due very soon. He has decided to make them available only online – either through the benfolds.com website or through the Apple masterminded iTunes. However, Folds wishes to avoid the media barrage that accompanies new releases, and hopes this quiet method will enable him to beat the big machine and get his music out on a grass roots level, while avoiding as he said online " having to pose naked at the piano." After all that, do you think Ben really cares about any additional press? Well here it goes anyways…
Speed Graphic
Speed Graphic consists mainly of piano bass and drums. Joining Folds is John Painter on bass, along with Jim Bogios and Lindsay Jamieson, on shared drum duties. Beginning with the Cure cover "In Between Days, " Folds ivories up the original sythn pop version with his own Baldwin graced effort. Masking Robert Smith’s gloomy voice with Folds’ more optimistic wail,
Speed Graphic starts in familiar Ben Folds fashion. "Give Judy My Notice" which was reportedly written a week prior to recording , is a slow chilling ballad, quite similar to the previously released "One Down." It’s the third tune "Protection" that gleams with Joe Jackson
Stepping Out sleek jazz, alongside some hydraulic drumming. The previously unrecorded tune "Dog," wallops in shiny hooks, with a poorly placed phone conversation towards the end that serves no clear purpose. Darren Jesse of Folds’ former outfit Ben Folds Five, aided in writing the final number "Wandering," an emotional ballad in the spirit of "Brick," that craws the EP to a teary ending.
Sunny 16
Fold’s lyrics have always related in a smirky indie rock sense with his core audience, as they draw vivid character portraits and healthily reaffirm the outcast in all of us – whether it’s getting dumped or just feeling odd.
Sunny 16 opens with "There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You" - perhaps the quintessential Ben Folds tune with its marching piano beat, righteous cursing, self-mimicking humor, along with a rejuvenating chorus. Batting second, "You’ve Got To Learn To Live With What you Are" is pure optimistic fanfare for the confused yet insecure. "All You Can Eat" is a bouncy stab at politics, while "Rock Star" is a meandering, yet iffy stab at lounge singing. The Neal Hannon cover "Songs of Love" shows Folds’ orchestral side, but it’s up to the listener to decide if his achy voice serves the song justice.
Although these EP’s aren’t Folds’ strongest efforts to date, they still hit a sweet spot with fans of melodic piano rock and a hunch for off-beat lyrics. Three songs from each EP are rumored to appear on a new full-length release due in 2004, although they may be arranged differently, but who exactly knows - as Folds’s mentions on his website – "I’m just not sure."
