Half a life ago - December 12, 2021
Buggy - November 27, 2021
When We Two Parted - November 25, 2021
Catfish - November 22, 2021
December 31, 2001 // 7:18 p.m. // 04: Ben Folds, Rockin' The Suburbs
04 Ben Folds Rockin' The Suburbs Release date: September 11, 2001 To fans of the not quite any genre band Ben Folds Five, reports of a possible breakup late last year and the later confirmation of their disbandment in March of 2001 came as quite a blow. After four albums, the band decided to call it quits. Little did we know, singer Ben Folds was already at work on a solo album. But how would one person's album sound compared to those of his former band? Exactly the same. Yes, that's right. Ben Folds' album Rockin' The Suburbs sounds more like his former band than his former band does. Much of this is due in part to Folds literal translation of 'solo album.' On this album, Ben Folds is a one man band. He writes all of his own songs and plays all of his own instruments, as emphacized in his video for "Rockin' The Suburbs." Rockin' The Suburbs, is packed with pianos, outstanding lyrics, catchy choruses and song titles with people's names. Everything we've seen from BFF in the past, and hopefully will see from Ben Folds in the future. Fans of the band need not worry. The band may have broken up, but the sound emanating from all of Folds' instruments is the same.
What real reviewers said: Superficially, there's not much separating Ben Folds' first official solo album, Rockin' the Suburbs, from his records with Ben Folds Five. It's hard to note any difference, really, since he still works from the same vantage point, borrowing equally from new wave, '90s irony, and a love of classic pop. Still, there is a difference, even if it's hard to pinpoint -- perhaps it's an increased focus, perhaps it was a hot streak from Folds, or perhaps the Five really were more of a group than they seemed and he's benefited by working according to his own patterns. Regardless, Rockin' the Suburbs is as good a record as any he's made, possibly his best. While there are no surprises here to anybody familiar with his work, it's a remarkably consistent record, filled with great mid-tempo pop tunes and nicely sentimental ballads. It's simply a good, solid record that captures Ben Folds at his most engaging, and that's more than enough. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Singles: "Rockin' The Suburbs", "Still Fighting It" Also check out: "Gone", "Fred Jones part 2", "Annie Waits", "Zak and Sara"