Ben Folds Five
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Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States (1994 – 2000, 2011 – present)
Ben Folds Five is a trio formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States in 1994, who until their breakup in 2000 were a mainstay of piano rock. Much of their work was influenced by jazz, evident in frequent improv-styled passages through bridge and/or ending.
The members of the band are Ben Folds, the lead singer and pianist, who also wrote most of the songs; Robert Sledge on bass; and Darren Jessee on drums. The group enjoyed the success of the single Brick in 1997, a ballad written by Folds (with a chorus by Jessee) about his high school girlfriend getting an abortion. This song has, to a large degree, misrepresented the band to fans who aren’t familiar with their other work; “Brick” is a serious ballad, whereas most of their music is characterised by jazz inflections and witty, humorous lyrics.
After the band’s not-so amicable breakup in October 2000 over Ben’s over shadowing of Sledge and Jessee, Folds began a solo career. Robert Sledge’s subsequent band International Orange has broken up, while Darren Jessee is the frontman for the band Hotel Lights.
Folds once described their music as “punk rock for pussies” - a reaction to the angst prevalent in 90s rock. When asked about his band’s name he jokingly responded “you mean a trio isn’t five?”. In other interviews the band said that the name was simply because Ben Folds Five sounded better than Ben Folds Three.
Ben Folds has continued with producing music on his own, striking a subtler tone than Ben Folds Five’s earlier recordings.
The members of the band are Ben Folds, the lead singer and pianist, who also wrote most of the songs; Robert Sledge on bass; and Darren Jessee on drums. The group enjoyed the success of the single Brick in 1997, a ballad written by Folds (with a chorus by Jessee) about his high school girlfriend getting an abortion. This song has, to a large degree, misrepresented the band to fans who aren’t familiar with their other work; “Brick” is a serious ballad, whereas most of their music is characterised by jazz inflections and witty, humorous lyrics.
After the band’s not-so amicable breakup in October 2000 over Ben’s over shadowing of Sledge and Jessee, Folds began a solo career. Robert Sledge’s subsequent band International Orange has broken up, while Darren Jessee is the frontman for the band Hotel Lights.
Folds once described their music as “punk rock for pussies” - a reaction to the angst prevalent in 90s rock. When asked about his band’s name he jokingly responded “you mean a trio isn’t five?”. In other interviews the band said that the name was simply because Ben Folds Five sounded better than Ben Folds Three.
Ben Folds has continued with producing music on his own, striking a subtler tone than Ben Folds Five’s earlier recordings.
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Whatever and Ever Amen
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The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner
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Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five Buy- Download Album
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Whatever & Ever Amen
Ben Folds Five Buy- Download Album
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- 7digital Search
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $4.27
- eBay Search
Shoutbox
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Nobodylikesyou wrote:
New album. Eep.
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Nagsworth wrote:
"the most hipsterious hipster band" - the hell you talkin' 'bout, man? Ben Folds Five aren't hiding anything behind any hipster facades. They are a straight-up honest-to-betsy awesome rock band. I just got their 'Sessions At West 54th' DVD today, can't wait to get stuck in to it!
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Sturmverweht wrote:
I'm so looking forward to the new album!
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Nakkinak wrote:
suburban fuzz bass piano jazz rock
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Nakkinak wrote:
the most hipsterious hipster band, I love it
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Mrmario315 wrote:
House is music perfection, graaaaaa so good!!
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Captainundead wrote:
FUZZ BASS
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Karmageddonx wrote:
Loving the current default pic.
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Criznittle wrote:
Ben Folds Five "Song For The Dumped" is featured on Indie/Rock Playlist: November (2011) download here: theindierockplaylistdotcom
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hereyoufocus wrote:
Hey have you heard Ben Folds talking about one of the tracks on the album, "House"? Watch it right here! http://www.vevo.com/watch/ben-folds/the-best-imitation-of-myself-house/USSM21101757?source=ap
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notquitetony wrote:
HI! I recorded a weezerish cover of "Kate" listen if you'd like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqP_1-NRZU0
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AlxenPanikovski wrote:
ЕБИ ГУСЕЙ!!!
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jesuisnina wrote:
WOOOOHOO, If they ever come to Holland again I will demand a meet and greet.
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TheKeenGuy wrote:
Amelia Bright and Stumblin' Home Winter Blues are pretty good versions of great Hotel Lights songs.
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Sturmverweht wrote:
Love the "new" material on the Best Imitation of Myself: An Introspective (2)
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JammyJulian wrote:
Love the "new" material on the Best Imitation of Myself: An Introspective
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naotas_forehead wrote:
Holy crap they're reuniting. :D First band I ever got into... not my favorite anymore but they will always be very special to me.
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ChudleyCannons wrote:
AH. 2011- present! It might make me cry. My all time favorite band is doing shit together. Which supposedly would never happen. And I'm listening to a new song by them. And. This is the evidence I need of a higher power.
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Karmageddonx wrote:
I LOVE "House". If this new album happens, I hope this is indicative of the sound. It sounds like such a natural progression from Reinhold. And if Ben Folds Five tours in support of said tour, I would sell myself on the streets to be able to buy tickets. Seriously.
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JammyJulian wrote:
Reuniting? Wow.
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Recent Activity
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Shallott78, TRIPLERD, mickjoest and 2 other people added Ben Folds Five to their libraries. 5 hours ago
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ThomasTeekens tagged Ben Folds Five with indie, alternative, piano rock and one other tag. yesterday evening
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nkcyborg, savepharris, lbrown885 and 36 other people added Ben Folds Five to their libraries. yesterday evening
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bigsboy added Ben Folds Five to the lineup of Mountain Jam 2012 at Hunter Mountain. Friday evening
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MediaHolistics, olorcain, marktufano and 3 other people added Ben Folds Five to their libraries. Friday afternoon
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lebrosski added Ben Folds Five to the lineup of Beck at Molson Amphitheatre. Thursday evening
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tall_leprechaun wrote about Ben Folds Five in Music Taste.. Thursday evening
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melaniejolson, ScottOf6and20, Smashley333 and 19 other people added Ben Folds Five to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
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waaaaai tagged Ben Folds Five with piano rock and piano. last month
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mangovillain, EmilyDawnSilva, leticiatiemg and 9 other people added Ben Folds Five to their libraries. last month
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