Ben Folds Live

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Performer: Ben Folds
Distributor: Sony BMG

Notes: Initial pressings of BEN FOLDS LIVE will include a bonus DVD disc. Personnel includes: Ben Folds (vocals, piano); John McCrea (vocals). Initial pressings of BEN FOLDS LIVE included a bonus DVD disc. Personnel includes: Ben Folds (vocals, piano); John McCrea (vocals). For his mid-2002 tour, unabashed popster and nouveau piano man Ben Folds decided to do "something a little different." Outside of occasional guest appearances, it was just Folds on stage with his wispy voice and his grand piano. However, as anyone who's ever seen Folds could imagine, the shows were far from stale or restrained or spare, but raucous and rousing and rowdy as the slight Folds relentlessly, torrentially pounded away at the keys and whipped the crowd into frenzy upon frenzy. BEN FOLDS LIVE, recorded at various spots on the tour, accurately captures this spirit. BEN FOLDS LIVE takes a cross-section of his budding career, drawing from both his first solo record, new songs, and his days fronting trio Ben Folds Five and makes some surprising choices. BF5 hits "Brick" and "Army" are featured, but the singles from the solo album are absent, as is the crowdpleasing "Song For The Dumped" (it does show up on the DVD with the first 100,000 copies). There is an organic feeling to the record, as on an improptu and downright beautiful version of "Emaline," and a faithful cover of the Elton John classic "Tiny Dancer." BEN FOLDS LIVE perfectly represents the raw energy of this distinctive singer-songwriter.

Uncut (12/02, p.148) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...LIVE is one of the most refreshing live LPs of recent times..." CMJ (12/02, p.56) - "...Seamless and natural, a credit to Folds's unforced virtuosity on the ivories and easy rapport with a crowd..."

North Carolina's Ben Folds Five flouted convention at every turn; for starters, they were a trio, not a quintet. And for an (initially) indie pop-rock band, the absence of guitar (leader Folds was a singer/pianist) was an anomaly. The band's mix of catchy popcraft and offbeat, light-hearted lyrical content. After breaking through to the majors with two late-'90s albums, Folds dismantled the band and continued as a solo artist, scoring a big hit in 2001 with the characteristically quirky "Rockin' the Suburbs." Folds would continue to release crisp pop records sporadically throughout the '00s, while remaining a tremendous concert draw. Along the way, he would produce the long-awaited album by William Shatner.

* Estimated Delivery Dates are based on anticipated order processing and transit times, and are not guaranteed dates.

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