Review: Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman

Ben Folds returns with 'Songs For Silverman', an album that's as upbeat jazz as it is fun-pop piano-tinkling.

Throughout, there's an undercurrent of introspective sadness and heartbreak, but Folds never allows it to go all the way down; instead, he keeps things upbeat, clearly experimenting with just how jolly he can keep his tunes.

If this album jars at all in the throat of Ben Folds fans (or indeed, fans of the now defunct Ben Folds Five), then it's for the fact that the album refuses to go anywhere but down the path of genius-piano bounce-along melodies. It never once explodes into anything particularly interesting or different.

There are some great tracks here - "Late" is especially striking, a song that serves as Folds' tribute to the late and influential musician Elliot Smith. However, as good as the song writing and music is, without any real variation between tracks, 'Songs For Silverman' is a CD that's instantly forgettable.

(Epic)

Graeme Johnston