Ben Folds
Ben Folds Live
(Epic Records)
By: Jeff Leisawitz - ModernRock.com
Let’s do some math. The piano bashing band Ben Folds Five had three musicians. Until Ben went solo. Now he’s released seventeen awesome live tracks recorded in more than half a dozen cities around the US. So what’s that add up to? One stellar live CD collectively titled Ben Folds Live.
Ben interprets the songs on Ben Folds Live with the instruments he knows best— a big old piano and his smart alek-y vocals. From the opening cut, “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces,” Folds’ fingers dance and crash on the keys. It’s the delicate musicianship and piss & vinegar drama that takes this singer through many of the best songs from his studio albums. “Army” features an impressive multi- part audience sing along.. “Philosophy” finds Mr. Folds banging out rhythms on the piano frame and “Brick” offers a stripped down version of his biggest hit to date.
But some of the album’s magic comes in the form of unreleased tracks like “The Best Polka” and “Imitation of Myself.” Another sterling moment in the collection is the cover of the Elton John 70’s mega-hit, “Tiny Dancer.” And when Folds responds to audience heckling with an impromptu new song, “Rock This Bitch,” the crowd goes wild.
As if that weren’t enough, the limited edition disc is a DVD of concert footage of several songs from the CD (six to be exact) and two additional songs—“Album Art Antics” and “Song for the Dumped.”
If you’ve never seen Ben Folds play live, do yourself a big favor and buy a ticket next time around. If you just can’t wait, pick up Ben Folds Live and rock in your living room. You win either way.
 Copyright © 2010 ModernRock.com All Rights Reserved
| 
