I recently purchased Ben Folds new album Way to Normal . The raw anger that leaps out of almost every song on the album is difficult to ignore. It seems apparent that he has suffered from a broken relationship in recent history. Some of the song titles include ‘bitch went nuts’ and ‘you don’t know me’ on which Regina Spektor is a guest vocalist.
A few listens in I started to really like it especially as an album to listen to as a whole. I feel as if I am going on the grief journey with him only its him and not me which is great. He does anger very well, an emotion as valid as the rest which is misused and underrated. He attacks it with great lyrics and instrumentation. The song I like the most is ‘cologne’ which comes as a trough between the peaks of rage, and song 6 of 12 songs. It has a lovely reflective, lilting quality which makes a refreshing contrast to the fury. Have a listen.
I love the ‘Folds. And I agree, this album of his is quite raw. It may have something to do with him splitting from his Aussie wife who he had twins with
Apprently he has married again, this time a yoga teacher.
One of the best concerts I have been to was his at the Forum in Melbourne a few years ago where he had the audience eating out of his hand as he ‘conducted’ us from the stage. And he played ‘Brick’. I know it’s been played a million times, but it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end and I made have shed a tear. I am seeing him again in September. So yeh, he’s a little crazy, but what’s not to love?
Hi Katy I have never seen him live, sounds like I should and will try for September. It was Brick that got me in the first place, thanks for the chat. Cheers Jacq