Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman

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I don't like it and I don't know why. I WANT to like it. Someone help!

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 14 April 2005 12:34 (twenty years ago)

I kinda had the same reaction. I don't think the songs are anywhere near as good as on Rockin the Suburbs. I didn't really expect anything different after listening to his last three eps, though.

― jedidiah (jedidiah), Thursday, 14 April 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

All the songs I liked on Rockin The Suburbs were really ones that were just facsimiles of older BF5 songs (i.e. "Carrying Cathy" is basically the same song as "Selfless, Cold & Composed"). These ones are like second-generation Xeroxes of past glories.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 14 April 2005 13:07 (twenty years ago)

I've only heard the "unmastered" version of Silverman, but he sounds so dour & sad, more like he did on the last BF5 album than on the 1st 2, & when he does his Ben Folds schtick (the "gimme my money back you bitch" stuff), it sounds really awkward. Musically, though, the CD sounds fantastic. Maybe mastering will perk him up some & smooth out the wrinkles?

The title track off his last album (plus my FEAR OF POP VOLUME XXIV) kept me from checking out the rest of it. Is it worth a damn / D/L?

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 14 April 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

There are perhaps three excellent songs on the first solo album. "Annie Waits", "Fred Jones Pt. 2" and "Carrying Cathy". "Fired" is not bad, but the MOTHERFUCKER! bit is forced.

It is a very dour album. "Jesusland" is sort of vaguely compelling in a strange way, but it's a bit... silly in its earnestness. Can't describe it, really. It does SOUND fantastic, but each BF release in all guises has had a drop in songwriting since Whatever and Ever Amen.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 14 April 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

Rockin The Suburbs is a classic album

― musicjohn73 (musicjohn73), Thursday, 14 April 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

Um, I don't know about classic so much. Maybe in the sense that it was sort of another album written for fourteen year-old boys, like "Whatever and blah-blah bl-blah." But that's why I like it I think.

But the "dour" bit is spot on. Maybe "earnest" too.
And what's with that Dr. Dre cover (that was on itunes I think)?

― earinfections (Nick Twisp), Friday, 15 April 2005 02:14 (twenty years ago)

I haven't heard the album, but I really like "Landed" -- it's one of my early favorites for song of the year.

― John Fredland (jfredland), Friday, 15 April 2005 07:13 (twenty years ago)

I love the "motherfucker" in "Fired."

"Landed" bored me, but I've only heard it once. We'll see what happens I guess..

― billstevejim, Friday, 15 April 2005 15:50 (twenty years ago)

You know how the dull songs at the end of "Whatever and Ever Amen" only work because they've come after all this energy, irony, and needless swearing?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 18 April 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

I really , really like Jesusland, so pretty. And Landed is great too. I like the mood of this album.

― paulhw (paulhw), Tuesday, 26 April 2005 20:21 (twenty years ago)

This album has left me a bit cold, but I suspect it's a grower, as Ben Folds is my favorite artist of all time and everything. I know I already love "Landed;" rocked out to that one like ten times on first listen.

"Carrying Cathy" is boring and probably the worst song on RTS.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Thursday, 28 April 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

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