Guest Hollinger. Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 I've seen him three times now, it's been an awesome awesome show every time. Definitely puts on one of the better live shows out there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAngerer09 Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Yeah I agree, I've seen him 4 times with a band and once solo and his live acts are terrific. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tweedling Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Howard, the strangest thingsHave happened lately when iTake a good swing at all my dreamsThey pivot and slipI drop my fists and they're backLaughingHoward, My intention's becomeNot to lose what i've wonAmbition has given way toDesperation and iLost the fight for my eyes Boxing's been good to me, howardNow i'm told, "you're growing old"The whole time we knewA couple of years i'd be throughHas boxing been good to you? Howard, now i confessI'm scared and lonely and tiredThey seem to think i'm made of clayAnother dayI'm not cut out for thisI just know what to sayI say Well sometimes i punch myselfHard as i can, yelling"nobody cares"Hoping some one will tell meHow wrong i amHoward, Boxing's been good to me howardNow i'm told"you're growing old"The whole time you knewA couple of yearsI'd be throughHas boxing been good. . .Has boxing been good. . .Has boxing been good? Love this song. Written as a letter from Muhammad Ali to Howard Cosell. Ben is the man! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAngerer09 Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 Yeah, it's a shame his lyrics kinda suck now, with new songs like "The Bitch Went Nuts" and "You Don't Know Me." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
H to the ickle Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 I've seen him six times and they've all been pretty good. The best by far was seeing him solo at Mississippi Nights (RIP). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
markosis Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 "Alice Childress" is my jam. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted July 9, 2008 Author Share Posted July 9, 2008 I've seen him six times and they've all been pretty good. The best by far was seeing him solo at Mississippi Nights (RIP). Mississippi Nights is GONE?damn. Saw some great shows there: X, Jonathan Richman, Television...(I went to Mizzou for a few years in the late 80's, early 90's) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jcroach Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 New album is called "Way To Normal."  Here is the Paste article with details and a little interview. One of the songs features a duet with Regina Spektor.http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008...lease-date.html Thanks for the link, I hadn't heard about this. I've been a Ben Folds fan since the first BFF album. I saw "The Five" at the Vogue in Indy. Great show. Then saw them again during the Reinhold Messner era at the IU auditorium. Horrible show. The third time was solo Ben back at the Vogue supporting Rockin' the Suburbs.  I recommend as a primer, "Whatever and Ever Amen" for BFF and "Rockin' the Suburbs" for Ben solo. but you can't go wrong with the self titled "Ben Folds Filve" album. Fantastic. And of course there's the Ben Fold Live album which will give you a taste of lots of stuff, even some pre-BFF songs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Littlebear Posted July 9, 2008 Share Posted July 9, 2008 My first purchase was the second BFF album when it was released in 1997. I liked it then. I also purchased the foolow up in 1999. I found it good, too. And after a while, I thought both weren't that good. And I rather think Ben Folds is overrated actually. At least, Ron Sexsmith is far better, as well as Rufus Wainwright, Josh Rouse, Joe Pisapia, Jeff Tweedy... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bsr8j Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 My wife and I were at the solo Ben Folds show at the 930 Club when he was recording Ben Folds Live. I think at least one or two songs from that show made the CD. Those solo shows were a lot fun and very interactive. Since then it's been great to see him with a band again, although I wish he would play places like the 930 Club. We've seen him most recently at Wolf Trap (an outdoor shed, but a good one) and in Baltimore with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The Wolf Trap shows are good, but the club shows are better. Of course, it was at one of his Wolf Trap shows that we stuck around to see Rufus Wainwright. I had never really listened to Rufus, but his show completely won me over. Now I'm a fan of all the Wainwright siblings! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 I saw him open up for John Mayer last year in Des Moines (I was there primarily for Folds, my wife 50/50 Folds and Mayer). He put on a great show, to a song he made up based on a flier he was handed while walking in downtown DM. My wife just brought this one to my attention, too. Pretty funny. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 stopped listening after 'rockin the suburbs' out of disinterest. he's gotten a little too jokey for me, dude hangs out with Weird Al and William Shatner for crying out loud. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jcroach Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Official new album release date Sept 30th.  http://www.benfolds.com/ You can hear ""Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)" on his facebook page or on imeem.  Hum........................not much there. I'm hoping the rest of the tracks are better.  Way to Normal 1. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hits His Head) 2. Dr. Yang 3. The Frown 4. You Don't Know Me (featuring Regina Spektor) 5. Before Cologne 6. Cologne 7. Errant Dog 8. Free Coffee 9. Bitch Went Nuts 10. Brainwascht 11. Effington 12. Kylie from Connecticut  Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAngerer09 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Yeah, Hiroshima is fairly terrible. I've heard Cologne and You Don't Know Me as well, and those are much better. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I can't tell if Hiroshima is a live track or not. If it is then I have hope for the song. If not it is terrible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DAngerer09 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Unfortunately, that's the real studio track. He recorded crowd noises and sounds at shows in the spring and used them on the recording. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jcroach Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 You don't know me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Unfortunately, that's the real studio track. He recorded crowd noises and sounds at shows in the spring and used them on the recording. That is unfortunate. I hear in there a good track that could be pretty cool, but I think it may suffer from the Jay Bennett syndrome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bsr8j Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 After only one listen I actually like the Hiroshima song, but I can definitely understand people's criticisms. I found Songs for Silverman kind of boring and at least Hiroshima isn't boring. Maybe he's broken out of his malaise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foolnrain97 Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 So did anyone mention the live album. I always liked that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Video for Hiroshima here From the songs I have heard so far, I think this might be a concept album based on the life of a touring rock star. I may be wrong, I have been in the past. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jcroach Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 From the songs I have heard so far, I think this might be a concept album based on the life of a touring rock star. I may be wrong, I have been in the past. Didn't he already try a concept album once? "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner" had a psuedo concept album kind of feel to it. In mu opinion, it failed miserably.  I found Songs for Silverman kind of boring and at least Hiroshima isn't boring. I agree about "Songs for Silverman". I'll likely buy this album, but won't be expecting a lot from it. Maybe I'll be surprised.  Anyone have copies of the recently leaked tracks?I'd love to hear the rest. EDIT: Ben posted "Bitch Went Nutz" on his Myspace page. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea...riendid=9158119 Uhhhh...................ok. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bsr8j Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 EDIT: Ben posted "Bitch Went Nutz" on his Myspace page. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea...riendid=9158119 Uhhhh...................ok. Agreed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Bitch went Nutz I like it. Why I don't know Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jcroach Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Anyone have copies of the recently leaked tracks?I'd love to hear the rest. I tracked it down. If anyone is interested send me a PM. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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