Can we talk about the new Ben Folds CD?

[LibraLiz1973]

Songs for Silverman.. http://www.benfolds.com/


I just got it. It's FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Any other fans here?

[xmas74]

1. I love Ben Folds

and have heard a few tracks but haven't picked up the cd yet.
I take it that I should?

[LibraLiz1973]

9. Definately!! It is awesome.

So sad that talentless hacks sell mass quantities while quiet people like Ben sell about 200,000 if they are lucky. The new song out right now is called "Landed". Very good. I also like the song "Gracie" which is so sweet.

We'd hit the bottom,
I thought it was my fault
And in a way I guess it was
I'm just now finding out
What it was all about

Moved to the west coast away from everyone
She never told me that you called
Back when I was still, I was still in love

Till I opened my eyes and walked out the door
And the clouds came tumbling down
And it's bye-bye, goodbye, I tried
And I twisted it wrong just to make it right
Had to leave myself behind
I've been flying high all night
So come pick me up...I've landed

The daily dramas she made from nothing
So nothing ever made them right
She liked to push me and talk me back down
Until I believed I was the crazy one,
and in a way
I guess I was...

But I opened my eyes and walked out the door
And the clouds came tumbling down
And it's bye-bye, goodbye I tried
Treading a sea of a troubled mind
Had to leave myself behind
Singing bye-bye, goodbye I tried

If you wrote me off I'd understand it
Because I've been on some other planet
So come pick me up...
I've landed

And you will be so
happy to know
I've come alone,
it's over

But I opened my eyes and walked out the door
And the clouds came tumbling down
And it's by my goodbye I tried
Down comes the reign of the telephone czar
It's OK to call
Now I'll answer for myself

Come pick me up,
...I've landed


_____________________

You can't fool me, I saw you when you came out
You got your momma's taste but you got my mouth
And you will always have a part of me
Nobody else is ever going to see
Gracie girl

With your cards to your chest walking on your toes
What you got in the box only Gracie knows
And I would never try to make you be
Anything you didn't really want to be
Gracie girl

Life flies by in seconds
You're not a baby Gracie, you're my friend
You'll be a lady soon but until then
You gotta do what I say

You nodded off in my arms watching TV
I won't move you an inch even thought my arm's asleep

One day you're gonna want to go
I hope we taught you everything you need to know
Gracie girl

And there will always be a part of me
Nobody else is ever gonna see but you and me
My little girl
My Gracie girl

[xmas74]

21. As soon as I can scrape a couple of bucks together

(story of my life) I'll check it out.

[pstans]

25. I love Gracie

That song touched me in the same way that "The Luckiest" did from the last CD. Add it to the list of great heartfelt, emotional songs that Ben has written (Brick, Missing the War, Evaporated, The Luckiest). Gracie makes you laugh ("You can't fool me, I saw you when you came out") and you feel like the little girl is growing up right in front of you.

"Landed" is right up there with other his other great songs. It is a catchy tune that you can hum along with, but when you hear the words and think about they aren't so fun. A person's life might look all great at first, but everyone has their problems when you get to know them better.

[tx_dem41]

2. On Sirius, they often play the song where he drops the f-bomb...

about 100 times in 3 minutes. Is that song on the CD?

[LibraLiz1973]

5. Is that Bitches aint shit?

hmm- I'll have to re-listen. (good news, I'm doing that now!)

[tx_dem41]

7. That's the one.....

it might be a live version they play on Sirius.

[pstans]

22. That song is on the Ben Folds Live CD

[ghostsofgiants]

8. Haha, Bitches Ain't Shit is brilliant

As a cover it's hilarious, but musically, it's amazing.

[tedoll78]

3. I love Ben Folds.

but I haven't bought any of his music since the Five broke-up. I have some catching-up to do:P

[LibraLiz1973]

6. Rockin the Suburbs is one of the best CDs ever.

Ever.

[tedoll78]

11. Everyone tells me this.

It'll probably be the first CD I buy in years.

[LibraLiz1973]

12. Yep. You wont regret the money spent!

[ghostsofgiants]

15. Agreed

Some really fun songs, some realy sad songs and they're all really good songs.

[LibraLiz1973]

17. My personal favs from that CD are

Still Fighting It & The Luckiest

[ghostsofgiants]

19. Still Fighting It is great...

I love "Fred Jones Part 2", really really sad song, but there's just something about it.

And "Rockin' the Suburbs" (the track) is absolutely brilliant: "Y'all don't know what it's like being male, middle class and white." I damn near wet myself the first time I listened to it.

[ghostsofgiants]

4. Ben Folds is amazing

Can't get enough of that dude.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

10. Should I buy it?

I am going shopping later, was wondering what new music I should pick up.

I like a lot of different kinds of music, these days in my CD player I have Bright Eyes, Beck, Ryan Adams...

Would I like Ben Folds?

[LibraLiz1973]

13. I would think so.

Try Rockin the Suburbs & Songs for Silverman. imho Rockin the Suburbs is one of the 10 best CDs released in the last few years.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

14. Thanks, I will buy both

I just can't believe it when people say there is no good new music being made. I still love a lot of old music like Neil, Joni, etc, but I discover great new bands and musicians all the time. There is so much great music being made these days.

[LibraLiz1973]

16. I think it has gotten harder to find good music

but it is still out there. It's hard to hear beyond the deafening beat of the latest Britney Spears jam.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

18. That may be true

but with the Internet, it's also easier to find like-minded people who can recommend good music. I was turned on to Elliott Smith on a Joni Mitchell website, and from the Elliott Smith message board I learned about Nick Drake, Rufus Wainwright, Jeff Buckley, and many many other musicians who I just love today.

I certainly wouldn't have found any of this music on the radio.

[ghostsofgiants]

20. Yeah, I definitely think you'd enjoy Ben's music

You seem to have good taste.

[pstans]

23. I got it

It took me some time digest the CD. At first, I wasn't overly excited by the CD. It was ok, some of the songs were good, but I was a little disapointed. Then I kept listening and really listened to the lyrics and they pulled me into the songs. I found myself checking the lyrics on half the songs and read along. You to Thank, Jesusland, Trusted, Late, Time, and Prison Food all have great lyrics that are right up there with other of Ben's work.

Here are the lyrics to Jesusland, which I think are great! Sometimes I think Ben is smart for living in Austrailia

Jesusland by Ben Folds

Take a walk
out the gate you go and never stop
past all the stores and wig shops
quarter in a cup for every block
and watch the buildings grow
smaller as you go

Down the tracks
beautiful McMansions on a hill
that overlook a highway
with riverboat casinos and you still
have yet to see a soul

Jesusland
Jesusland

Town to town
broadcast to each house, they drop your name
but no one knows your face
Billboards quoting things you'd never say
you hang your head and pray

for Jesusland
Jesusland

Miles and miles
and the sun goin' down
Pulses glow
from their homes
You're not alone
Lights come on
as you lay your weary head on their lawn

Parking lots
cracked and growing grass you see it all
from offices to farms
crosses flying high above the malls
A longer walk

through Jesusland
Jesusland

[Cooley Hurd]

24. Fucking GREAT, isn't it?

It's been on a loop here at casa Cooley.:thumbsup:

[LibraLiz1973]

26. Hours later its still on loop here at Casa Liz!

[democracyindanger]

27. Me no likey

I'm a huuuuuge Ben Folds fan, but the latest album, in my opinion...meh.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

28. Just bought it, haven't listened yet

As recommended, I bought Songs for Silverman and Rockin the Suburbs.
I'll get a listen to it tomorrow.

Also got a Bright Eyes EP and a Death Cab CD for my daughter.

I love music.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

29. OK, I got it, and listened to it this afternoon

It's great! I liked it so much on the first listen that I know I will be hooked by the 2nd or 3rd time.

My daughter agrees that he sounds a bit like a male version of Aimee Mann.

The song "Late" is about Elliott Smith...sad, but well done.

[ghostsofgiants]

30. "Late" is about Elliott?

I did not know that. That's really cool.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

31. Yep, listen carefully...

Elliott, man, you played a fine guitar
And some dirty basketball
The songs you wrote
Got me through a lot
Just wanna tell you that

But it's too late
It's too late
No, don't you know
it's been too late
for a long time

Oh no
Things were looking up
Least that's what I heard
Oh no
Someone came and washed away your hard-earned
Peace of mind

...damn, that's sad. I miss Elliott so much. I saw him in concert several times, all at tiny clubs. I was good friends with the guy who ran his unofficial website (sweetadeline.net) and even got backstage once. His songs got me through a lot, too. :(