Ben Folds - Way To Normal [Box]

Artist:

Folds, Ben

See Also:

Beatles (The) Beach Boys (The) Dylan, Bob

Description:

Composer/Lyricist: Ben Folds.
Personnel: Ben Folds (vocals, piano, Wurlitzer piano, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer); Jared Reynolds (vocals, bass guitar); Sam Smith (vocals, drums).
Additional personnel: Lindsay Jamieson (drums).
Audio Mixers: Leo Overtoom; Michael Brauer.
Audio Remasterer: Leo Overtoom.
Arranger: Ben Folds.
While the delightfully silly opener, "Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)," is a particularly obvious nod to Elton John, one of the many dynamic pop keyboardists Ben Folds has frequently been compared to (also see: Billy Joel, Todd Rundgren), WAY TO NORMAL brings to mind another pianist who rose to power in the 1970s. With its quirky, witty wonderings about the neuroses of love and God and country, Folds`s third record recalls Randy Newman post-LITTLE CRIMINALS--bright, bouncy, and buoyant, yet subtly twisted.
On "You Don`t Know Me," Folds softly trades a cooing call-and-response with Regina Spektor, as perfect rapport and playful rhapsody disguise lyrics of human isolation in destructive love. The ultra-hooky "Brainwascht" fools around in the "You`re So Vain" vein as Folds continues a beef with an unnamed busybody songwriter friend, all while a deceptively perky Bacharach-esque plays behind him. While he`s still able to romp in the just plain goofy style that originally brought him attention in the Ben Folds Five days, particularly on the pun-happy Midwest walkabout "Effington," Folds is at his mature best when confronting exhausted honesty as on closing track, "Kylie From Connecticut."

Track Listing:

DISC 1:

1. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His head)
2. Dr. Yang
3. Frown Song, The
4. You Don`t Know Me - (featuring Regina Spektor)
5. Before Cologne
6. Cologne
7. Errant Dog
8. Free Coffee
9. Bitch Went Nuts
10. Brainwascht
11. Effington
12. Kyle From Connecticut

DISC 2: NORMAL PEOPLE DO IT TOO:

1. Cologne [Piano Orchestra Version]
2. Effinton [DVD Take]
3. Errant Dog [DVD Take]
4. Frown Song [DVD Take], The
5. Kyle From Connecticut [DVD Take]
6. Hiroshima [Video]

DISC 3: BONUS DISC:

1. Salt Lake City
2. Rockit Digitally
3. Ballad Of The Wiggly Twins
4. In The Breeze
5. Anger & Issues In Ellensburg
6. God Bless College Park
7. Rock For Freedom
8. Vegoose

DISC 4:

1. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit his head) (Side A)
2. Dr. Yang (Side A)
3. Frown Song, The (Side A)
4. You Don`t Know Me (Side B) - (featuring Regina Spektor)
5. Before Cologne (Side B)
6. Cologne (Side B)

DISC 5:

1. Errant Dog (Side A)
2. Free Coffee (Side A)
3. Bitch Went Nuts (Side A)
4. Brainwascht (Side B)
5. Effington (Side B)
6. Kylie From Connecticut (Side B)

Album Information

Type:

Boxed Set

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Label:

Epic (USA)

Producer:

Leo Overtoom; Michael Praytor; Dennis Herring; Ben Folds

Catalog Number:

88697357322

Original Release Year:

2008

# of Discs:

5

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Guest Artist:

Regina Spektor

Portions copyright 2005 Muze Inc. All rights reserved.