Review: Ben Folds' Way to Normal

Since 1995 Ben Folds has been best known for quirky piano-based pop rock first and foremost. His work with Ben Folds Five (really only a trio) highlighted that goofy, tongue in cheek nature, and his solo material took it to a new level. On his new record Way to Normal, Folds starts to take off the oddball mask and reveals a true human being underneath, without sacrificing the quirkiness that's been his mark of trade for so long.

Way to Normal leads off as strange as ever with "Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)", which has about as much homage to Elton John as you'd expect with that title. From what I've gathered the track is semi-autobiographical based on Folds recent journey to Japan (someone can gladly prove me wrong there). The album stays on that left-of-center note through "Dr. Yang" and "The Frown Song", which is fine because that's Folds bread and butter, but Folds is most definitely at his best when he lets his guard down for a little bit and let's some of his humanity and artistry show. Lead single "You Don't Know Me", a duet with Regina Spektor, is the first step toward that transition, a trip that's well on its way as Folds laments his way through "Cologne", and as Folds ends the album with the reminiscent "Kylie From Connecticut". Those two moments are the most emotionally naked Folds gets on the album, but the upbeat, enjoyable music in between finds a comfortable balance between feelings and slapstick, between the road-rage driven "Errant Dog", "Free Coffee", and "Bitch Went Nuts". For God's sake listen to the transition between the latter two tracks; its easily the most enjoyable, laugh-out-loud section of Way to Normal.

On Way to Normal, Folds illustrates that he's on...well, he's on his way to being a normal guy. While most solo musicians claim to have that everyman appearance, Ben Folds can actually back it up in his music. This is the closest thing to an honest record I've heard from a solo artist in some time.

Final Score - 8.5/10
Ben Folds - Kylie from Connecticut [iTunes]