Review: Way To Normal – Ben Folds

Prior to the official release of Way To Normal, Ben Folds â??leakedâ?? it. However, the songs on the leak werenâ??t the songs on the official album. It was reported that Folds and crew had a â??night to kill in Dublinâ? and leaked a fake version of the album on fan sites so people had â??something to listen toâ?. The leaked version was replete with foul-mouthed humour and Foldsâ?? trademark melodies. It was a cheeky move and defined the manâ??s persona.

Ben Folds is cooler than hipster and geekier than nerd. Heâ??s with the peeps. His accessibility as a songwriter, a performer and a prankster has seen him through two solo albums (after Ben Folds Five came to an end) that took his suburban pastiche and made it real. The formula is simple, and Foldsâ?? genius with melody made Rockinâ?? The Suburbs and Songs For Silverman memorable listens.

But when does the method wear thin? And does it have to?

As is apparent with Way To Normal not soon, and it doesnâ??t. Folds is a master of the alternative piano melody. Songs like â??Dr Yangâ?? and â??Errant Dogâ?? are based on classic Folds riffs. â??Bitch Went Nutsâ?? and â??Free Coffeeâ?? pack the same whimsical wordplay that weâ??re familiar with. Fans will easily eat this up. And if youâ??re new to Folds, this is as good a place as any to start.

With his tongue-in-cheek humour and the obvious allusion to being the everyman, Normal can be faulted for being just that. Over the last eight years, weâ??ve been treated to pretty much the same type of fare. Itâ??s great fare no doubt, but the evolution of the sound is limited to a duet with Regina Spektor and some electronic intros. Still, this is what we love him for and he reminds us amply.

Indiecision: B+