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Album Board / Re: The Sound of the Life of the Mind - What do you think?

« on: September 12, 2012, 05:50:15 PM »

I've listened to it a few times now and, well, some of the excitement is wearing off.

Michael Praytor is the standout for me. That, 'Do It' and 'Thank You' are probably my favs. The rest is solid enough and I was loving 'Draw a Crowd' but the constant 'dicks on a wall' lyric kind of spoils it for me.

I'll give it time but I have a feeling that I'm unlikely to be listening to this a week or two from now.

Sorry to be a downer! It's only my opinion and I'm often wrong. 

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News / Re: 'On Being Frank' stream

« on: September 11, 2012, 06:09:38 PM »

Not loving this one. The album's first 'skipper' for me. 

I can forgive one or two.

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News / Re: 'Michael Praytor' stream

« on: September 06, 2012, 07:12:40 PM »

Loving it!

Three songs so far, all are really working for me and they're all so different.

Man, those guys should never have split up. 

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News / Re: New Ben Folds Five song Do It Anyway DOWNLOAD

« on: May 28, 2012, 07:30:11 AM »

Fantastic, love this! All the energy, attitude and depth I didn't even realise I was missing. I love Ben solo, but the Five just has, well, something. 

I'm glad to hear it back.

I love the Pledge idea too, here's hoping it's a huge success for the boys.

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News / Re: New Shatner album (no Ben as far as I know)

« on: October 25, 2011, 08:14:14 AM »

That's really terrible, like his version of 'Lucy in the Sky' from way, way back.

I think Ben understood that there was more to Shatner than a kitsch joke and he managed to construct a CD that's poignant and clever but still has a sense of humour. 'Has Been' still finds its way into my regular rotation because it's a very accomplished record musically and really quite moving at times. That version of 'Common People' is damn near genius.

'Bohemian' sounds like someone taking the piss.

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Album Board / Re: General Lonely Avenue Discussion

« on: November 28, 2010, 03:31:03 AM »

I like that my favorite musical artists change over time. To use a dopey sports cliche, you take some big swings and you're going to have some big misses but also some big hits.

I get that and have no problem with it. Artists do change over time and so do we. I'm not critical of Ben or this album as such, it's just that my response to it isn't what I'd hoped it would be. I'm sure there are plenty of people who like this stuff better than music that he's released in the past and that's fine. My post is really from a selfish point of view, I had great personal expectations of this album and we don't like each other! Damn!

I'll pinch a couple of tracks for a compilation no doubt and it's not like I don't have plenty of Ben Folds to listen to.

And there's always whatever comes next!

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Album Board / Re: General Lonely Avenue Discussion

« on: November 26, 2010, 07:11:38 AM »

Sadly I'm not connecting with this album at all.

The synth feel is a turn off for me and I'm struggling to relate to many of the lyrics, as clever as some of them are. I love the musical structure of 'Levi' for example, but the story is so specific and so of the moment that I don't feel any emotional link. It's like a really clever gag, but the problem with songs like that is that the joke loses the power when your familiar with it.

After the WTN 'fakes' I was under the impression that Ben intended to take a similar, almost improv, approach to Hornby's lyrics. Instead, for me, the album feels overly studied and a bit lacking in spark and energy.

I've taken enormous pleasure in Ben's music and concerts over the journey, but it seems that some of the things that first captured my imagination have gone from Ben's latest music.I was originally hooked by that early 'piano punk' approach that was so refreshing and energetic. As time goes by the music seems to be becoming more 'adult contemporary' than is generally my taste.

Still, Ben is clearly making the kind of music that he enjoys and is challenged by.

I can get behind that!

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News / Re: LIVE AT THE WIRELESS - BEN FOLDS

« on: October 13, 2009, 06:08:34 AM »

Who was that masked man?

Thanks so much! This one had special meaning for me simply because I was at this particular show and I was starting to think I'd missed the boat.

It's very kind of you to go to this trouble given that you're not a huge fan, but your effort is much appreciated!

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News / Re: LIVE AT THE WIRELESS - BEN FOLDS

« on: October 06, 2009, 03:41:22 AM »

I tried to record the stream but screwed it up royally! I'm hopeful the full set will turn up here eventually;

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/live/

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News / LIVE AT THE WIRELESS - BEN FOLDS

« on: October 04, 2009, 08:01:38 PM »

From the Triple J website;

"A wonderful solo set from Ben Folds. Recorded live by triple j at The Palais in Melbourne."

Monday 5th 8pm (one hour duration).

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News / Re: Way to Normal: Stems and Seeds! (SPOILERS-ish)

« on: February 08, 2009, 05:27:41 AM »

I've just listened to the Amazon streaming version and think this mix is HEAPS better than the original. All the vocals are cleaner and more in the front of the mix, even Free Coffee and Dr Yang have the vocals boosted so that distortion in the piano sound works much better. There's a lot of background vocals and instrumentation that I hadn't even noticed before and the instruments generally have a lot more space. No longer is it just a big wall of unpleasant noise.

I was expecting the remix, but the editing and alternate takes are also a big improvement. No more 'Before Cologne' makes sense, I don't miss the talking at the end of Hiroshima at all and think the 'live crowd' aspect is handled much better than originally.

If the differences are this marked on a crappy streamed version, I have great hopes for the CD. I even prefer this new track order

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News / Re: Way to Normal: Stems and Seeds!

« on: December 19, 2008, 08:42:14 AM »

Well this is extraordinary.

I posted on here after the release of WTN complaining about the clipping and compression, but mostly just on a fan-to-fan level. To think that Ben Folds bothers to visit the site, read the comments and then go to an amazing amount of effort to address our concerns is staggering to me.

I've listened to records and CD's my entire life, admired and enjoyed any number of musicians, but never before have I felt actually connected to any of them in any meaningful way. Musicians are, in our perception, this bizarre mix of person and superhero, so to have one actually respond in such a substantial way is remarkable and a bit mind-boggling. I can't see that BF would profit from this effort, a few extra fan-club members yeah, but as a commercial proposition? Forget it.

I guess if you're a popular recording artist you have strangers endlessly telling you how great and fantastic you are. Fans must be this weird constant made up of a parade of overly eager faces, all presented with uncomfortable familiarity. I always figured that most musician would appreciate their fans mostly in the faceless form, as part of a large audience, or as numbers on a sales chart, because, frankly, dealing with strangers who love you must be a little bit creepy. Taking account of their opinions has to be the fast lane to insanity!

So I'm extremely impressed. Not because I think BF is some kind of deity, but because that guy we all talk about, enjoy so much and listen to, is actually listening to us too. I'm just some guy in Australia who spent $25 bucks on a CD. Who gives a rats about what I think?

Well the guy that made the CD does, and that's cool. Seriously so.

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Album Board / Re: squishy squishy

« on: October 23, 2008, 07:43:54 PM »

It...is finished.
     
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=310RFGYC

You are a genius!

I burned a copy of this and had a quick listen driving around at lunchtime. It may not be perfect, but mate, it's much, MUCH better than the store bought version. It has a lot more range with better bass, much clearer vocals and a lot more 'space' if that makes any sense!

Thanks very much, you've revived the album for me!

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Album Board / Re: squishy squishy

« on: October 15, 2008, 06:40:56 AM »

I saw a piano once.

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Album Board / Re: squishy squishy

« on: October 10, 2008, 01:53:42 AM »

Ditto.

It's great that you're going to this much effort, and really appreciated!