The album review of Ben Folds Live

Released in October 2002, Ben Folds Live was recorded during US singer and songwriter Ben Folds solo tour of 2002. A mixture of his solo material of that era and songs recorded with his previous band Ben Folds Five, it captures a musician at the peak of his career as a performer. This article will provide a review on his album Ben Folds Live.

The songs

Ben Folds Live opens with the rousing chords of One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces, an instant reminder of Folds' talent as a piano man in the mould of a young Elton John or Billy Joel. Live in concert, with or without the services of a full band, his energy and exuberance shine thoroughly. Zak and Sara showcase his piano skills at their most dynamic while the soulful, stripped-back simplicity of One Down is sung with a quiet intensity that hushes the audience into silence. Narcolepsy is a hypnotic piece of virtuoso playing that whirls and swirls into a frenzied crescendo. Moreover, the heartfelt cover of Elton John's Tiny Dancer gives the comparisons a sense of context. A full-throttle Philosophy, from Ben Folds Five's 1995 eponymous début album, is the proof that the songs of that era sound just as vibrant in the hands of Folds, the solo artist as they did with the fuller sound of a band behind him.

The facts

The cover of the album depicts Ben Folds holding his face with his back turned to the audience. In the original photograph, the audience is giving Folds the finger, but this was edited out for all, but the 'Parental Advisory' release of the album. The 'l' in live is shown as an upturned 'f' in reference to Folds' previous band Ben Folds Five. This album includes the first recorded version of the Ben Folds live routine known as Rock This Bitch. This was an impromptu song created by Folds during a 2001 gig in Chicago, after an audience member called out 'rock this bitch'.

Final word

An uplifting live album driven by an infectious sense of urgency, Ben Folds Live is one of the most engaging live albums of the last 20 years, as memorable as Nirvana's Unplugged In New York. This is essentially because it captures the essence of a particular performer. Hence, it is indeed a must for fans of Ben Folds and a good place to start for anyone wishing to explore his music.