Ben Folds

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11,295,649 plays (405,622 listeners)

singer-songwriter, indie, piano rock, alternative, rock… see all

United States (2000 – present)

Benjamin Scott Folds (born September 12, 1966, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for his prowess as a pianist. Ben Folds’ musical career started to get off the ground in the late ’80s, as bassist for band Majosha, after playing bass and piano at Pinehurst, in a group known as the “Caroliners” with cohort Millard Powers in 1985-1987; he also played drums as a session musician in Nashville. As well as appearing in Pots & Pans - now known as the Snuzz demo, as a pianist in Britt Harper Uzzell’s (aka Snuzz) band. Folds is best known for his later work as the frontman and pianist of Ben Folds Five and as a solo artist. Folds’s compositional and playing technique remain wholly unique, combining elements of the typical ‘singer/songwriter’ genre, jazz, and power rock. Indeed, his music is evocative of artists such as Joe Jackson, Todd Rundgren, and Sir Elton John, with an added edge and bold infusion of energy and wit. Although his music has no distinctive genre with which it is associated, the terms piano rock and indie are often used to describe his unique style. It is worth noting that popular, piano-centric artists such as trio-based Keane and solo artist Matt Hales, a.k.a. Aqualung, began their rise to popularity after Ben Folds’ three-member band, Ben Folds Five, broke up in 2000. The other two members of Ben Folds Five were Robert Sledge (bass) and Darren Jessee (drums).

Rockin' the Suburbs
Ben Folds
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Songs for Silverman
Ben Folds
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Supersunnyspeedgraphic, The LP
Ben Folds
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Ben Folds Live
Ben Folds
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Top Tracks

1	Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)	3,205
2	Bitch Went Nuts	3,189
3	Before Cologne	3,165
4	Cologne	3,118
5	The Frown Song full track	3,023
6	Errant Dog	2,669
7	Effington	2,539
8	Free Coffee	2,530
9	Kylie from Connecticut	2,411
10	The Luckiest	2,354
11	Dr. Yang	2,102
12	Landed	1,996
13	Brainwascht	1,937
14	Zak and Sara	1,931
15	Still Fighting It full track	1,824

Shoutbox

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Zoonie wrote:
Thursday evening

I'm thinking that the official version of Brainwascht is a thumpingly great proper song. It's a bit of an odd album. I wonder what on earth he was listening to? My only real negative is Free Coffee, I just don't think it works, plus the intro to "The Bitch went Nuts" - no no no. Mostly though I'm thinking this is an album to experience live.

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SergeFreeman wrote:
Thursday afternoon

Hey! I think Ben's song with Regina Spektor "You Don't Know Me" is superb so I've added it on the list of my "Songs 2 Hits" campaign (songs2hits.blogspot.com)

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timz0r wrote:
Thursday morning

I am also enjoying the fake album slightly more than the real one. Perhaps we have got them mixed up...

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davosmavo wrote:
Thursday morning

I like the fake one as much as the real one.

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quietontheride_ wrote:
Wednesday evening

kylie from connecticut <3

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Scianaphobia wrote:
Wednesday evening

Way to Normal is so catchyyyyy!

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echelonstudios wrote:
Wednesday morning

my friend who's a singer/songwriter got me listening to your stuff and i can't get it out of my playlists. 329 plays in 3 months :D I love and look forward to anything new from you guys. I love this stuff..

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Jewce wrote:
Tuesday morning

I'm enjoying the new album a lot, although I miss your more heart felt side.

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AxYoung wrote:
Monday evening

Review of Way To Normal: http://consequenceofsound.net/2008/10/06/album-review-way-to-normal/

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evadethenoise wrote:
Monday afternoon

we've been listening to Way Too Normal: http://evadethenoise.com/2008/10/06/ben-folds-way-to-normal/

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thejennyjen wrote:
Monday afternoon

I agree with those who said the album takes a few spins to grow on you andddd that it sounds better in headphones. Except Dr. Yang. I really like blasting the volume on that one.

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streetvendors wrote:
7 days ago

The song Way to Normal is fucking hilarious

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socallmenothing wrote:
7 days ago

Ben and I have the same birthday! <3

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theanapirate wrote:
7 days ago

Ben, mi amor, I love you, but you're killing me with this new album.

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iheartsuds wrote:
7 days ago

cologne and kylie= <3

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ChudleyCannons wrote:
last week

Awesome way too go taking over the top tracks. Wow. Nice!

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Ruebrylla wrote:
last week

bitch went nutz > bitch went nuts

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OneWorldDestiny wrote:
last week

this guy is today's jerry lee lewis... feel good music. liked the new album @ first listen: no hits but who cares

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ChudleyCannons wrote:
last week

Headphones or vinyl make Free Coffee far more genius of a track. The leak can be found at http://wokeupwaytoolate.com/filedump And the leak definitely had pretty simplistic piano, and not very good vocals, especially by the time Frowne Song comes around.

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Moosh2k7 wrote:
last week

Does anyone have a link for the fake version?

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Events

Oct 10 Ben Folds Congress Theatre, Chicago, United States
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Oct 11 Okobos Music Festival Resch Center, Green Bay, WI, United States
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Oct 16 Ben Folds The Pageant, St Louis, United States
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Listeners

weezerfan6622
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to You Don't Know Me…
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Recent Activity

bonasina, mpjorgens, erikfloyd and 11 other people added Ben Folds to their libraries. Friday morning
blue_sky_blues tagged Ben Folds with ‘piano rock’ and ‘singer-songwriter’. Thursday evening
sevenfireflies, RuthlessRuth, mbg27 and 3 other people added Ben Folds to their libraries. Thursday evening
matsodCrew tagged Ben Folds with ‘indie rock’. Thursday afternoon
Paeoniajazz, neilegend, wilessara and 2 other people added Ben Folds to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
tigree tagged Ben Folds with ‘singer-songwriter’. Thursday afternoon
felnir tagged Ben Folds with ‘piano’. Thursday afternoon
mF__ tagged Ben Folds with ‘singer-songwriter’. Thursday morning
physiogirl, trin8, herrbrendel and 4 other people added Ben Folds to their libraries. Thursday morning
dhpc_raptor tagged Ben Folds with ‘piano rock’. Thursday morning