Ben Folds Five News: Ben Folds Way To Normal (Epic)

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Sound: More like his former band Ben Folds Five than his first two solo albums. The slick production and sugary/light rock has been largely replaced with a rawer, more ragged sound with pounding piano, stomping drums, fuzzy guitars and smart-ass, bitter lyrics. He also works in several sweet-harmonied, bouncy pop tunes, sentimental piano-driven ballads and a song with a strong musical theater flavor. Regardless of the style, the whole album feels looser and less-produced than his last two.

Recommended: Fans of Ben Folds Five should be excited to hear Ben return to his roots on Way To Normal. The vibe is...