Ben Folds - Way To Normal

Why You Should Buy It:
1. Ben Folds Rocks
2. You are a Ben Folds fan!

Admittedly, I will say that I love Ben Folds. He is excellent in concert, and Whatever and Ever Amen got me through many an all-night term paper in college.

I believe that the song Rockin' The Suburbs is the worst track on his CD Rockin' The Suburbs. And I mean that in a good way.

Skipping forward, I enjoyed his most previous release, Songs For Silverman, but it is not enduring. The song Landed is phenomenal (although at release-time, overexposed), but most of the rest of the CD is forgettable. (Okay, I really do love Jesusland.)

At release, my biggest criticism of Songs For Silverman was that it is a little too heavy at times. The Ben Folds that I enjoy most is usually quirky and fun. When he sings about people that I've never met, I seem to know them after a few listens: Kate, Zak and Sara, The Ascent of Stan, Steven's Last Night In Town... These songs are like imaginary friends!

Which brings me to Way To Normal. The best part of this CD is that he is definitely having some fun, which is most evident in Bitch Went Nuts (The best song on the CD by far?) and Effington---which delivers the title line.

But here's the rub: The CD opens with a song about how he fell and hit his head in what seems to be a concert in Japan. It concludes with the more serious tune Kylie from Connecticut. And that sums up the CD: it seems all over the place. Sometimes it's good. Sometimes it's plain. (The track You don't Know Me with Regina Spektor is not my favorite...) In the end, it's better as a whole than Songs For Silverman---but not Rockin' The Suburbs. It's a tweener. There's a lot to like, especially for die hard Folds fans, but I am not sure how much of it is easily accessible to newcomers...

Highlights: (some YouTube links included. Nice stories before songs. I love that about Ben.)
Track 1: Hiroshima
Track 2: Dr. Yang
Track 8: Free Coffee (funny start)
Track 9: Bitch Went Nuts (best part, the bitch singing in the audience. How do you know the words already!? And how are you so tone deaf?!?)
Track 11: Effington
Track 12: Kylie From Connecticut

Songs For Tibet - (Various Artists)

Why You Should Buy It:

This collection features 20 alternative versions of songs that you may or may not already know. The versions on these CDs (some recorded live, some recorded in the studio) are refreshing and in some cases even superior to the originals.

This is a must-own compilation if you are into Sting, John Mayer, Ben Harper, Damien Rice, or just down to earth good music for a good cause.

The Highlights: (with links to some excellent versions of these songs!)

Track 2 - Send Your Love (Sting)

Track 4 - Belief (John Mayer)

Track 6 - We Are All Made of Stars (Moby) ---This video is awesome!

Track 8 - More Than This (Vanessa Cartson)

Track 10 - Where Are You Gong? (Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds)

Track 18 - Better Way (Ben Harper)