|
Rockin' the Suburbs | 
 enlarge | Artist: Ben Folds
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy New: $10.99
You Save: $0.99 (8%)
New (39) Used (22) from $5.30
Rating:  279 reviews
Sales Rank: 2369
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 61610
UPC: 074646161029
EAN: 0074646161029
ASIN: B00005NZKK
Release Date: September 11, 2001
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
| |
| Tracks:
| • | annie waits | | • | zak and sara | | • | still fighting it | | • | gone | | • | fred jones part 2 | | • | the ascent of stan | | • | losing lisa | | • | carrying cathy | | • | not the same | | • | rockin' the suburbs | | • | fired | | • | the luckiest |
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
On the evidence of Rockin' the Suburbs, Ben Folds's decision to jettison the two-piece Five that had backed him on four largely excellent albums has not resulted in any significant shift in trajectory. The Ben Folds Five were only getting better, gradually discovering the confidence not to hide their musical uniqueness (there have been too few piano-led power trios) and lyrical intelligence behind undergrad Barenaked Ladies-style gags. Songs like "Mess" and "Brick" signaled an extraordinary new songwriting talent worthy of comparison to Folds's obvious idols, Elvis Costello and Paul Simon. Only this album's title track harkens back to Folds's fondness for comedy, and it is by far the weakest track here. The rest is mournful, reflective, and, at best, quite magnificent. Folds's hymns to his family, "Still Fighting It" and "The Luckiest" are shot through with an honesty that's rare in alternative rock. The acerbic essence of character sketches such as "Carrying Cathy," "Losing Lisa," and "Zak & Sara" are leavened with a generous compassion. Folds's second solo effort is his best album yet. The remainder of his career must be anticipated with equal parts expectation and impatience. --Andrew Mueller
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 274 more reviews...
 ben is rockin my suburb August 19, 2008
I love his voice, lyrics, piano talent, and just the way he combines rock and jazz and other things I can't think of names for. Seriously if you have never heard of ben folds before just listen to him please. He is my favorite pianist. I was lucky enough to see him live, and now I experience all the music with a new perspective. And if you play piano, I recommend also purchasing the piano book for this album.
 Disappointing June 27, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Ben Folds Five's career was over too short, releasing only three albums. It's a darn shame, but Ben Folds, obviously the most talented member of the band, is known for going solo. Too bad this record is too ____ disappointing and doesn't really have as much to offer as his band.
It was obvious for me that the three of them were such a trio. The loss of Jesse and Sledge hurt on some of the songs, the more upbeat or faster (you get the idea) songs (Robert's basslines are sorely not present). The Ballads really are beautiful, but if you say it's a progression of his musical evolution that was shown with Reinhold Messner, your wrong. It just doesn't seem to be as lush in instrumentation. Ben Folds has simply just drifted into more of a regular pop singer armed with a piano, and that's it. Here's an overview of the eleven tracks, since it is more simplier than paragraph format and probably more helpful and less garbled and hard to follow.
1.Annie Waits-This has some of the most infectious Ben vocals ever, you can't but sing along. However, the drum machine gives it less life, and only one voice doing all of the harmonizing, sounds kind of lame. The Drum Machine hamper it a lot, can't Jesse at least play on one ________ song?
2.Zak And Sara-Again, it's just not the same without the two behind. It sounds a bit simple and misses the trademarks of BFF. Not a bad thing, but he doesn't create enough of his own or puts it in this song.
3.Still Fighting It-BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
4.Gone-The drums are not that driving, and he doesn't put enough into the piano (it's too simple and just not up to his standards). His voice is really good in this one, which really helps it.
5.Fred Jones Part 2-Ben really does paint the character of Fred Jones, and the piano line really helps that. John Mccrea from Cake makes a cameo.
6.The Ascent Of Stan-Boring
7.Losing Lisa-A good one, simple kind of piano line that flows similar to Where's Summer B. You'll be singing along in no time.
8.Carrying Cathy-There isn't much wrong with this one. I'm not going to complain, though it's not a masterpiece.
9.Not The Same-A crappy, near generic pop song. The lyrics suck. You gave your life to a band? Ooh, that's clever, why the _____ do I care about this stuff.
10.Rockin' The Suburbs-A power pop song with guitars (!!!). Great song, great video, and great lyrics (it makes fun of angry white teenagers from the Suburbs, in a nutshell).
11.Fired-Sadly, the two aren't on this one, but the piano and vocals are awesome. Awesome song, great piano line.
12.He kind of waxes the cheese, but it's a good love song. Some of the liens are embarassing and twee though.
Still though, Rockin' The Suburbs is an alright pop album, and fine ballads, but so many of those trademarks that made Ben Folds Five are not present on this album. It's still emotional, good, music, that all music lovers would be a fool to care, but isn't satisfying enough for the BFF band.
6.5/10
rockin the suburbs May 21, 2008
excelent cd very palatable for most music fans. Lots of good piano and hidden undertones. I had chills the first time i listened to this cd
Some of Ben's best work March 15, 2008
This is my favorite Ben Folds album. It might be because it's the most recent I've bought, but I love all the tracks.
"The luckiest" is a beautiful song and "Rockin the Suburbs" is great, too.
Matt Zarnstorff
 Fun in the suburbs February 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
First solo album for Folds is mostly in the same vein as his full band efforts, even while often sounding very different. Don't come expecting another "Whatever & Ever"; Ben's already proven he's a constantly changing artist. If "Reinhold Messner" was about horns and strings adding to the sound, then "Suburbs" throws in all the sweet sounds he can come up with that defined plastic pop of 70s AM-rock. But with his rich piano and a sharp lyrical mind bending between the sincere and the sarcastic, it is far more charming than syrupy. It's actually almost on a par with his best work when he was in the trio.
Folds' wry way of fusing the poetic with the paeanic is in typically strong form--it's his ventures in new musical directions that gives "Rockin'" its juice. Most surprising of all is the hit title track that replaces his signature piano pounding with (gasp) guitars. The track, like most of the second half, only half works--in this case, for the goofy rhymes and undeniably big fat hooks, but it rings of shallow irony. Folds at his worst is still usually pretty satisfying, though. Also, it's notable that the album was released on 9/11/01--we NEEDED joyous and fun music like this.
Best cuts: "Fred Jones Part 2," "Gone," "Annie Waits," "Still Fighting It," "The Ascent of Stan," "Rockin' the Suburbs," "Zak and Sara," "The Luckiest," "Not the Same"
|
|
|
Copyright 2006 - CD Shopper | |
