Ben Folds "Songs For Silverman" (Epic)
By Tim Den
Thursday. Jun 23, 12:46 AM
The melancholy beneath the bright hooks has its day.

(read an interview with the man himself here)

After wetting our appetites with three EPs and a collaborative band (The Bens with Ben Lee and Ben Kweller), the full-length we’ve long been waiting for has finally arrived. Songs For Silverman is Ben Folds’ “grown up” record: a statement of independence; a declaration that he no longer needs to live up to anyone’s expectations. You expected a Rockin’ the Suburbs sequel? You ain’t gettin’ one. You expected piano bashing ruckus? Too bad. Songs For Silverman slowly unfurls at a steady, introspective pace, building subtlety upon subtlety in ripples of nuanced melodic play. Some have compared it to The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, but it is much more sturdy and honed in. The tempos and the mood might echo “Missing the War” instead of “Battle of Who Could Care Less,” but place your attention in the slippery turn of phrases (lyrically and melodically) and you shall be rewarded. This is a record that you need to devote time to, despite its accessible appearance.

And although it is not without faults (single “Landed” rips a bit of James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain;” remake of “Give Judy My Notice” feels regimented and stiff; piano lick after the third line in the chorus of opener “Bastard” reminds me so much of Blossom’s theme song that I cringe every time), Songs For Silverman is as involved as a piano pop record can get without losing catchiness. Funny (but not funny funny) chord changes, irregular meters, and lyrics that are a shade darker than the usual Folds cannon paint this collection one for the winter. It might not be for everyone, but to those who’ve always felt the melancholy beneath Folds’ bright hooks… it’s simply wonderful.
www.benfolds.com
www.epicrecords.com

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Tim Den

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