"Way to Normal" is anything but...

Greetings, Mr. Folds. It's finally good to hear your story. Not that your fictional pieces aren't exceptional, but it's nice to hear another side of things.

Ben Folds' fifth solo album is distinct from his previous work, both as a solo artist and with Ben Folds Five. Gone are the fairy tale-esque ballads to imaginary characters (a la "Zak and Sara," "Annie Waits," "Fred Jones"), replaced with songs that seem to come from a much more personal place in Folds' heart.

I guess the key thing that is to be noted with this album is that Folds doesn't seem to even attempt to empathize with his listeners, in a good way. If one were to defamiliarize themselves with his work for a moment, his motivations for doing so are not that hard to understand. Folds has spent most of his career, especially with his work as a solo artist, singing the songs that his audience can't write themselves. It's only reasonable that Folds takes a moment to tell his stories.

This isn't to say that Ben has lost any of his edginess or his irreverent sense of humor. The album opens with "Hiroshima (b b b benny hit his head)," a chant-able anthem that Folds still has it, and then some. The true story of Ben's inadvertent stage dive at the opening of a show in Japan is almost as hilarious as Folds' rambling presentation of it.

Folds also opens himself up a bit more than usual with "You Don't Know Me," a chronicle of a falling out between significant others, which features Regina Spektor on backing vocals. I don't know what it is about this song that makes it so damn enticing. Perhaps it's the video, the sing-song nature of the track, Spektor's innocent tone, or the expression of blatant bitterness that we all feel after a break up. Whatever it is, it works, and it's no wonder that this is the first single released from the album.

On the same note, "Bitch Went Nuts," is one of those songs that every guy (and girl) who's been through a break-up can't help but smile every time they hear it. Although Folds tends to focus on slightly more melancholy subjects, he does so with the unbridled exuberance of Elton John, with a dab of Elvis Costello, in a way that is nothing short of captivating.

Ironically, the most poignant song of the album is the only song that tells a fictional story. Even the staunchest critics of Folds would have a hard time arguing against the placement of "Kylie from Connecticut" as the closing track on the album. The story of memories of a by-gone affair is so mesmerizing, you can't help but turn off your stereo after hearing it, simply to ruminate over it.

Pros:

-Same old Ben Folds, with a new twist

-Not only matches but exceeds some of his greatest efforts with "Way to Normal"

Cons:

-A tad too short. One or two more songs would have been nice.

-"Dr. Yang" should have been a B-side. It's a decent song, but it sticks out in comparison to the rest of the album.

Final Verdict: 4 out of 5

-Folds still has it. "Way to Normal" is a must for even the most casual of Folds' fans. If you don't feel like shelling out the $12 to download it from iTunes, you at least owe it to yourself to download "You Don't Know Me," "Effington," "Bitch Went Nuts," and "Kylie from Connecticut."

much respect

josh