Comments on: Dw. Dunphy On… Ben Folds

By: rwcass

rwcass — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:07:14 +0000

It's not that dramatically different from the original, though, is it? On the other hand, the “ska remix” of BF5's “Kate,” which is really the strings version of the song, is as good as the original version.

By: rwcass

rwcass — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:07:14 +0000

By: colin_all_the_shots

colin_all_the_shots — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:34:16 +0000

Sentimental guy is the only song on SFS, that is worthy of mentioning, to me anyway.

if everyone is a fan of Ben Folds i encourage you to check out www.mypsace.com/worldscollide people who have listened to BF5 have also bought this album.

peace.

By: Old_Davy

Old_Davy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:44:58 +0000

Thanks DwD. That is a great version of “Landed”.

By: rwcass

rwcass — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:50:34 +0000

Agreed. I mean, I don't love “Silverman” like you do, but I like where Folds is coming from. It's missing something, but it's a step in the right direction and a more successful attempt at a somber record than “Reinhold Messner” was.

By: mrmilk

mrmilk — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 13:36:39 +0000

I love Songs For Silverman. As an owner of all the import singles etc, Songs For Silverman hit me hard. It's an older record…it reminds me of Sail Away by Randy Newman. Very pretty songs, dressed down. Not a bad track on it. The subtle nature really brings out the small variations. That said, he never made an album that subtle. Jesusland sounds like nothing else on the record, Prison food sounds like Pink Floyd, and Sentimental Guy & Gracie are two of the most touching things he's ever done.

Very interesting that he's still capable of a Hiro's Song or a There's Always Someone Cooler Than You, but Silverman, he leaves them off. No jokes. No tricks. Just a great songwriter album. It's his Crowded House album or something. I adore it and I'm going to listen to it now. I implore you to give it another try.

By: rwcass

rwcass — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:59:32 +0000

I like “Silverman” too, but it took me two years. Like many other people here, I thought it was boring overall, although I liked about five of the songs. Then I started to like one or two more, and then I realized I was fine with not liking every song. “Silverman” does have a sameness that previous Folds albums don't have, except for “Reinhold Messner.” “Silverman” is still better than “Reinhold,” in my opinion.

I'm not bothered by “Captain Jack's” masturbation joke. But Folds's sense of humor seems to indicate that you could show him the funniest episode of something like “Mr. Show” and all he would remember were the fart jokes. He cut out the juvenile crap on “Silverman” but seemed to lose some of his joie de vivre in the process.

By: EricGrubbs

EricGrubbs — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:09:46 +0000

I might be in the minority here, but I think the strings take away the power in the bridge. I like them in the verses, though.

By: Thierry

Thierry — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:57:03 +0000

That song as a whole may have a whole lot of Madman-era Elton in it (or maybe some Turnstiles-era Billy Joel, and even a bit of Phish circa Billy Breathes), but what I heard first was the chord progression from James Taylor's “Fire and Rain”. Not that I'm complaining – this version of “Landed” is great!

By: hagen

hagen — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:54:53 +0000

Seconded!