Contrast Podcast Captures 1997 and They Let Me Be on Blogfresh Radio Again

Whatever and Ever Amen is one of my very favorite records, too, not just one of my favorites of 97. There just aren't that many records I can listen to and enjoy start to finish anymore, but this is one.

Brick still makes me cry, but then, Kate makes me feel very bouncy and happy, and Song For The Dumped just cracks me up. Give him back his black t-shirt!

Will listen to blog fresh, just to hear you!

i think as an album it has stood the test of time extremely well. i can remember driving my kids around and them begging me to play that "steven" song again--and again and again! i used to skip "song for the dumped" to try and protect them, but after a while i gave up. i'm a bad mom, i know, corrupting my own children! but to this day, bff is one band we can all agree to listen to.

hope you enjoy the blogfresh--they do an amazing job of editing those interviews to make me sound like i know what i'm talking about!

p.s. that little something i told you about should be winging its way to you any day now.

Hmm. For me, Ben Folds Five is one of those bands that I have heard OF a lot, but never really quite gotten into. Must be outside of that zone of music that makes me jump up and run to the store (or, reach out and click someone), but I will listen with interest to your choice. How about an intro to BFF for musical neanderthals like myself? And, sorry to hear 1997 was so sucky for you, by the way. 2007, I hope, was better; it's my assumption that we improve with age. Finally, the contrast podcast & blogfresh radio both in one week! Kudos to you! Cheers, WRE

well, i'm not sure about the improvement with age bit--i think it's more up and down over the years than anything, but i'm willing to hope for the best. :)

in terms of bff, whatever and ever amen is an excellent starting point. his band was unlike a lot of others in that they don't use a guitar. it's just piano, bass and drums. the piano is the driving force. the best thing about his music is that his songs are character based. he can paint incredible pictures of people who have many, many flaws and yet you see yourself in them and you can empathize with them. unless of course he's singing about someone completely reprehensible, which he does. but even then it's intriguing. after that, i'd try the unauthorized biography of reinhold messner, songs for silverman and rocking the suburbs. the band broke up a couple of years ago so he's doing solo stuff now. i have some of that, too, if you find yourself so inclined.

Oh, duh. Tim & I were chatting about BFF (specifically why they were so distinct) in London, among other things like themes for the CP. I guess my lack of a focused interest stems from being more interested in rocking out than ballads, if that's the right word. I'll defintely give them a new hearing!

On the CP and 1997, there are some things that age doesn't account for. For me, that was 2004. :)

And, on Blogfresh, that's a funky little number you found! I like what little I have heard of Laura Viers, and I'll be tracking down Thao shortly.

just so you know, most of ben folds five DOES rock out. "evaporated" is not typical of the album as a whole.

i'm really digging that thao. she's playing at first unitarian church in philly in late march and i'm planning to go, but i have a feeling you'll be otherwise occupied around that time!

Yes, BFF does rock out! Wank, you should hear "Song For The Dumped," if you want to rock out, or "In Between Days," from the "Speed Graphic EP." I think piano can rock like crazy!

Oh, and Marcy, I did get the item in the mail. Made me smile bigtime!

THANKS SO MUCH, you are very thoughtful!!

So, perhaps my in upcoming travels, which will definitely have some slow periods, I can explore BFF. I have to say it sounds like in at least 2 opinions I have missed the boat. (How cool is that? Think of the great music I might discover!) Anyone care to write a whole post on how rockin' and fabulous and brilliant the Ben Folds Five were, and what a shame it is that they are no more? ;)

(Frankly, this is all making me miss the 90's. I'm glad I was listening to the CP in private today - would have been a nuisance to my colleagues otherwise!)

lol!!!!! nat called you wank! oh my god, i'm such an adolescent! ;-) but she's right, they do rock out substantially.

nat--you're most welcome! i'm so glad it made it there safely. :)

OK, I was going to let that slide, but since you've forced the issue, that's Mr. RotaryEngine to you both.

lolz! just like mr. tibbs, i suppose!