Whatever And Ever Amen
While I'm in the mindset of Ben-related albums
It's both mysterious and no surprise how Ben Folds and his musical trio (who says the Five has to mean anything?) rose to mainstream attention on the strength of an exceptionally sad slow piano ballad named "Brick". Strong metaphors were gracing the ears of people who were more prone to laugh at the more jocular "Battle of Who Could Care Less".
Musically speaking, however, Ben Folds reached his peak capability of non-experimental piano-driven material, and although he would eventually produce his albums on a grander scale, Whatever And Ever Amen retains intimacy on even its louder moments. Each piano tune manages to remain simple yet effective.
The album is fairly well balanced in terms of tempo and mood; while predictable, the fast and upbeat songs tend to be funny, and the slower songs tend to be sad. The good news is that the band excels at both. "Song for the Dumped" will make you giggle with the unexpected refrain of "Give me my money back you bitch", and "Selfless, Cold, and Composed", the strongest song on the album, connects with the listener on a pleasantly surprisingly profound level.
While excelling at both, never does one get the sense that it is over the top, meaning that it's never too maudlin nor is it prevented from being taken seriously. Stylistically, the music is not suited for over-the-top special effects, and aside from the beat-bop falsettos in "Fair", none of it sounds cheesy or gimmicky.
Ultimately, Amen remains the foundation from which Ben Folds' later work would develop, still standing strong as champion for his most relatable material. Although the short "Cigarette" might not contain a thread of continuity (it may if you are an avid fan), even the character-based songs such as "Kate" and "Steven's Last Night in Town" manage to remain somewhat personable, and as always, not too funny, not too serious. The album is about as perfect a blend you can attain without the use of a guitar.
It's both mysterious and no surprise how Ben Folds and his musical trio (who says the Five has to mean anything?) rose to mainstream attention on the strength of an exceptionally sad slow piano ballad named "Brick". Strong metaphors were gracing the ears of people who were more prone to laugh at the more jocular "Battle of Who Could Care Less".
Musically speaking, however, Ben Folds reached his peak capability of non-experimental piano-driven material, and although he would eventually produce his albums on a grander scale, Whatever And Ever Amen retains intimacy on even its louder moments. Each piano tune manages to remain simple yet effective.
The album is fairly well balanced in terms of tempo and mood; while predictable, the fast and upbeat songs tend to be funny, and the slower songs tend to be sad. The good news is that the band excels at both. "Song for the Dumped" will make you giggle with the unexpected refrain of "Give me my money back you bitch", and "Selfless, Cold, and Composed", the strongest song on the album, connects with the listener on a pleasantly surprisingly profound level.
While excelling at both, never does one get the sense that it is over the top, meaning that it's never too maudlin nor is it prevented from being taken seriously. Stylistically, the music is not suited for over-the-top special effects, and aside from the beat-bop falsettos in "Fair", none of it sounds cheesy or gimmicky.
Ultimately, Amen remains the foundation from which Ben Folds' later work would develop, still standing strong as champion for his most relatable material. Although the short "Cigarette" might not contain a thread of continuity (it may if you are an avid fan), even the character-based songs such as "Kate" and "Steven's Last Night in Town" manage to remain somewhat personable, and as always, not too funny, not too serious. The album is about as perfect a blend you can attain without the use of a guitar.