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Songs for Silverman
Ben Folds
Retail Price (not our price): $19.97
Release Date: 2005-04-26
Manufacturer: Sony
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1

Track List
Now here, for your listening pleasure, the tracks...

Disc 1

Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):

1) Amazon.com
What's great for Ben Folds fans —true fans, not the kind who signed on after hearing 1997's un-Ben-like radio hit "Brick" —is that Songs for Silverman picks up right where the excellent Ben-comes-into-his-own Rockin' the Suburbs left off in 2001. These are heartfelt songs: sometimes cheeky and occasionally heartbreaking. "Gracie," written in a hopeful key for Folds' young daughter, unravels to playful but brilliant piano plinks; "Late," for the departed singer/songwriter Elliott Smith, sidesteps straight-on sadness to convey a sense of lost camaraderie; and the clear-eyed "Landed," delivered in Folds' unadorned, tree-trunk sturdy voice, will inspire untold revelations for those stuck in stalled relationships. The music, meantime, maintains its sharp edge: "You to Thank" juts out with the help of a two new players in a celebratory jazz direction, while "Give Judy My Notice" dabbles in country and a chorus swells for "Jesusland." Throughout, Folds' piano work remains a pop-music goodie bag that defies duplication. --Tammy La Gorce

2) Album Description
The DVD side of the DualDisc features: *Entire album in 5.1 Surround Sound * Making of the album documentary including home movies, studio footage, live performances, interviews and more.

Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.0 out of 5

1) Ben hasn't missed a beat yet.   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I respectfully disagree with Gabriel's Buddy. There are a few tracks on this album that I wouldn't hesitate to use in a Ben Folds introduction. While it *might* not include any of his top five songs, historically speaking, I can hardly think of anything negative to say about this album.One or two tunes here are a little more derivative than most things Ben puts out, complete with Steely Dan influences (particularly in Give Judy My Notice). However no artist can be 100% innovative on every track they compose, and Ben continually weaves a tapestry that is NEVER humdrum - even when he lightly chooses from the influence of his past.

2) Good album, but Ben is getting middle aged   [Rating: 4 out of 5]
The tunes are catchy and some are even good, but I don't find any of the music special. There was always an edge to Folds' music, something he was rebelling against or exploring. However, in this album Ben reaches middle age, writing songs about his daughter and other tunes with good melodies but otherwise unmemorable. If you are a fan, certainly get this and add it to your collection. You will like it and listen to it many times. But this isn't the CD you pull out when you want to share Ben Folds with someone who doesn't know him. Then you pull out Rockin' the Suburbs or Whenever and Ever. Even his LP, Sunny 16, has a bit more variety than this album even though that had only 5 songs.It is good to grow up and not all songs can be about high school or one's teenage years. Bruce Springsteen remained relevent during such a transition, Billy Joel did not. Ben's following Mr. Joel's path.

3) Best Ben Folds CD EVER!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
Ben Folds is one of my favorite artists out there and this CD is his best. He writes the most inteligent lyrics and he has a since of humor at the same time. B*****d 9.75/10 well written and classic Ben Folds.My 2 favorite song on the albumYou to thank 9/10 Great piano and good lyrics.Jesusland 9.5/10 weird song but very catchy.Landed 10/10 Best song on the album. Gracie 8.75/10 not the best but its cool he wrote it for his daughter. Trusted 9.25/10 really cool music and lyrics. Give Judy My Notice 8/10 not the best on the album. Late 8.5/10 Weirdest song on the CD. Sentimental Guy 9.5/10 Great slow song. Time 9.75/10 Freaking awesome! Prison Food 9/10 Really good song

4) Different, but still great!   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
It's not Rockin the Suburbs. There. I said it. But why would you want it to be? This album is much more mellow, but it still has the signature Ben piano licks, it's just a much more contemplative album. His sense of humor is still evident though, on tracks like Jesusland. Overall: Great Album. 5/5.

5) Every bit as good as Rockin' the Suburbs   [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I don't see why so many people are putting this album down and saying that it's not as good as Rockin' the Suburbs. This is not the case. Sure, overall, Rockin' the Suburbs has a stronger selection of songs, but Songs for Silverman is much more cohesive of an album, and thus results in being equally if not moreso an engaging and satisfying listen than Rockin' the Suburbs, which I believe suffers slightly in song continuity (I mean, Fired into The Luckiest? come on). Don't be deterred by the slightly less level of praise this album is receiving than Ben's earlier works. You would be doing yourself a big disfavor by passing up this gem of an album.