CD Review: Ben Folds' Songs For Silverman
Published May 11, 2005
Ben Folds' career has been impeccable. Despite achieving major radio airplay with the post-abortion ballad "Brick," Folds has maintained his cool; staying as appealing to the underground masses as the mall goers. In fact, it might be easy to say that if you really like music, you can't help but love Ben Folds.
After four years, a self-produced full length album, a co-writer and producer credit on William Shatner's strangely wonderful Has Been, and three internet-only EPs, Folds has released Songs For Silverman, an album that, while not as off-the-wall experimental as his former band's Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, is still a drastic change of pace. On Silverman there is no "Rockin' The Suburbs," "Underground," or "Army." In fact, it seems as if Folds' cheeky humor is being left to his iTunes and internet exclusives. In this case, leaving his trademark wit behind has made for a cohesive work, albeit one that feels as if it was created by a middle-aged man of unsullied talent attempting to grow past himself.
Songs For Silverman has a constant and maintained state throughout. The album levels at the beginning and never progresses above or beyond that established plateau. This would be acceptable if "Jesusland" or "Prison Food" didn't beg to be grandiose and poppy like "The Ascent of Stan" from Rockin' The Suburbs. In fact, this is Silverman's major faulting. Low-key is fine until it borders on boring, and Folds is waltzing that line here.
Silverman takes no time to deal with the heavier aspects of life: broken relationships, death, and poor decisions are in abundance. These are the things one would come to think about when their life is at a turning point. Folds seems at this fork in the road. He's been the rock star, the witty songwriter/producer, and the family man. Now, on Songs For Silverman, he's crafted a fine and unsuspecting transition piece that promises better things to come.
(See also warning about DualDisc version)
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- CD Review: Ben Folds' Songs For Silverman
- Published: May 11, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Pop
- Writer: Michael Benning
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Comments on this articleComments
Eric,
Thanks for the kind words. The difficult part about writing this piece was that I love Folds' music so much it was hard to separate Silverman from his previous work. It's definitely the signature Ben Folds sound, just without the cheekiness of past works. It's still a nice work regardless.
If you do get it, however, I'd suggest picking up the slightly more expensive copy with Songs For Goldfish. My roommate recently grabbed it, and the added pictures and book, as well as seperate cd & dvd (as opposed to the dual disc), are a nice addition. Also, the extra disc of rarities is pretty hip.
I think you pretty much nailed it about the album's "maintained state throughout." Nothing in particular sticks out, but there's very little particularly bad, either. There's nothing to prick you like a good album should. It's just not very memorable, unfortunately, but it has some good songs that are going to get ignored because of the album's forgettableness.
that's too bad. i always look to ben for his pluck and his wit. but i suppose this is something many musicians (and artists in general) do. i just hope he snaps out of it and gets back to the fun stuff.
Michael, This work of yours now has another venue for success - and more eyes - at the Advance.net Web sites, a place affiliated with about 12 newspapers.
One such site is here.
Also please let your contact know, if you had one, that this article, is published at one more place. That helps a lot.
Thank you.
Temple Stark
Nice review. I think the album does better with time. I honestly didn't like it until about listen 5-6. After that I just had to be in the right mood. It is indeed an epic album.
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Great review, Michael.
I love Ben Folds... but this doesn't sound like the album for me. I really dig his upbeat, poppy, ironical kind of stuff, which is a great and smart and fun take on rock and pop music. I get a little more shiftless when he settles down into more Mature Musician mode. But that's cool for those who dig it.