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Ben Folds
SONGS FOR SILVERMAN
(Epic)
Maturity is a calculated move that can go either way -- alienate those who appreciate the immature you or it can drag them along with you into the world of seriousness before they even realize they're there.
The latter is probably what will happen with smartass piano man Ben Folds' latest release Songs For Silverman, an album, that, for the most part, ditches the smarm and plays it straight.
And the reason it succeeds is because Folds has always had a serious side -- it's just normally been sacrificed at the altar of good-natured goofballery or at least taken a backseat to it.
On Silverman, where he normally would have gone for the quirk or the quick hit, he settles on poignancy and thoughtfulness, delivering songs about love, cooled love, old ghosts and even one for his daughter.
It's still the same smart, easy, embraceable keyboard pop -- albeit with the pop, itself, matured slightly -- Folds employed with his band Ben Folds Five, as a solo artist and even as the man on the bridge of William Shatner's last ship Has Been.
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It's just a little more mature and little more business -- a suit Folds wears as well as that of jester.
Track Listing
1. Bastard
2. You To Thank
3. Jesusland
4. Landed
5. Gracie
6. Trusted
7. Give Judy My Notice
8. Late
9. Sentimental Guy
10. Time
11. Prison Food