When I put Whatever and Ever Amen in my cd player I get hit with nostalgia and happiness. I spent a good deal of high school listening to these records with Amen definitely ranking up there.
The band, self-described as 'punk rock for pussies', accurately reference this in the opening track ... Read review
Advantages: Lyrics, great indie-pop, remastered and bonus tracks Disadvantages: Not entirely justified for already firm Five fans
When I put Whatever and Ever Amen in my cd player I get hit with nostalgia and happiness. I spent a good deal of high school listening to these records with Amen definitely ranking up there.
The band, self-described as 'punk rock for pussies', accurately reference this in the opening track 'One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces' with incredibly aggressive piano playing and distorted bass. Folds' lyrics may see his tongue stuck firmly ... ...but his references are so cleverly ironic while being brutally honest they hit remarkably close to the heart.
Obvious standouts on 'Amen' here are 'Song for the Dumped', radio hit 'Brick' and 'Kate' but there is not one weak track on the entire album. In fact after repeated listens I'm sure most will find the album-only tracks surprisingly stronger. 'Selfless Cold and Composed' is probably one of their most underrated songs and only ... more
When I put Whatever and Ever Amen in my cd player I get hit with nostalgia and happiness. I spent a good deal of high school listening to these records with Amen definitely ranking up there.
The band, self-described as 'punk rock for pussies', accurately reference this in the opening track 'One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces' with incredibly aggressive piano playing and distorted bass. Folds' lyrics may see his tongue stuck firmly in his cheek for a good deal of the time, but his references are so cleverly ironic while being brutally honest they hit remarkably close to the heart.
Obvious standouts on 'Amen' here are 'Song for the Dumped', radio hit 'Brick' and 'Kate' but there is not one weak track on the entire album. In fact after repeated listens I'm sure most will find the album-only tracks surprisingly stronger. 'Selfless Cold and Composed' is probably one of their most underrated songs and only after consistent listening and seeing it live [See: Ben Folds Five's Sessions at West 54th St DVD] will many understand how well arranged and written it is along with, quite frankly, just about every track on 'Whatever and Ever Amen'.
What is special about this Remastered Edition of 'Whatever and Ever Amen' is not just the fantastic remastering of the tracks (audiophiles will notice the difference easily) but the addition of several rare recordings. Standouts from this are the bouncy cover of 'Video Killed The Radio Star', the faux-showtune 'Theme from Dr Pyser' and the absolute standout cover of Flaming Lips song 'She Don't Use Jelly'. This song is a perfect example of Folds' masterful arrangements and the powerhouse performers this trio really are.
If you are new to Ben Folds Five then this is the perfect place to start, right in the middle of their entirely short lived career. If you own just the original 'Whatever and Ever Amen' LP then this is definitely a genuine buy for you as the bonus tracks and extra artwork/inlay make it worth it.
chrismcgarry88 10.07.2007 (10.07.2007)
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Review of Whatever And Ever Amen [Remastered] [PA] - Ben Folds Five
Advantages: Unbelievably catchy and the best Disadvantages: Not enough ballads
This is without doubt the best of Ben Folds' work. Whilst his later solo work may be more poignant and reflective, this album is just pure powerpop brilliance!
So many of the songs are not only upbeat, but unbelievably catchy and masterpieces in their own right. 'One Angry Dwarf...' is cool, funny and unique. There is also the classic 'Brick'. Although its quite sad, is very touching and you're guarenteed to be humming it for weeks. Mr Folds has ... ...is the epitomy of Ben-ness! A perfect starter album for a Ben fan and just great feel-good music
The only criticism is that 'Evaporated' is far too short for such an exquisite song, but it shows that Ben knows when to stop and never puts material out for the sake of it. ...
katebug 30.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Whatever And Ever Amen [Remastered] [PA] - Ben Folds Five
Product Information for "Whatever And Ever Amen [Remastered] [PA] - Ben Folds Five" »
Product details
Title
Whatever And Ever Amen [Remastered] [PA]
Performer
Ben Folds Five
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Alternative
Release Date
21/03/2005
Recomended Retail Price
13.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1997
Label / Distributor
Epic / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Guest Artist(s)
Folds, Ben Five
Engineer
Ben Folds: Caleb Southern
Producer
Caleb Southern; Ben Folds; Brendan
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
5099751987529
Catalogue Number
5198752
Additional notes
Album Notes
Ben Folds Five: Ben Folds (vocals, piano); Robert Sledge (vocals, bass); Darren Jessee (vocals, drums). Additional personnel: Alicia Svigals (violin); John Catchings (cello); Matt Darriau (clarinet); Frand London (trumpet); Caleb Southern (Hammond organ). Includes seven bonus tracks. Ben Folds Five: Darren Jessee, Robert Sledge, Ben Folds. Recording information: 1997. Boldly hacking his way through the muck-infested swamplands of post-Nirvana alternative rock, Ben Folds comes to save the day with an album of pure pop delights that provide a welcome alternative to "alternative." Despite the name, the Ben Folds Five is a trio consisting of Folds on piano and vocals, a bassist and a drummer. There are echoes of everything from vintage Todd Rundgren and Joe Jackson to Hoboken-based popsters like the dB's and Freedy Johnston in the band's frothy compositions. And there are no guitars. Bassist Robert Sledge is on a one-man mission to bring back the fuzz-bass, utilizing the '60s bass technique to fill out the sound of the trio, and sometimes sounding more like a guitarist or keyboardist. Folds is an accomplished pianist, and has no qualms about giving the instrument the rock and roll spotlight that it's often denied. Ignore the knee-jerk Elton John comparisons. Folds may be equally influenced by show tunes and the Beatles, but WHATEVER rocks more convincingly than a gaggle of guitar-worshipping grunge puppies.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (4/17/97, pp.78-80) - 3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...Folds has written another batch of sweet songs and supports each with disciplined, downright patient arrangements....This is about as close to bliss as the radio gets." Spin (5/97, p.110) - 9 (out of 10) - "...WHATEVER AND EVER AMEN, signals a welcome return to rock as physical comedy. Like his sad-clown elders--Elton, Randy Newman--Folds knows that intense sincerity and oafish glitz are hardly incompatible. In fact, that's something we used to call entertainment..." Entertainment Weekly (3/28/97, p.68) - "...Guitarless, cool, and compositionally overqualified, BFF have everything you'd want out of a rock band right now except a wah-wah pedal." - Rating: A Q (1/98, p.112) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1997." Q (10/00, p.141) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Music for those who'll spend the rest of their lives 'off games', the bone-dry humor and sunny melodies still compensate for a multitude of sins." Village Voice (2/24/98) - Ranked #27 in the Village Voice's 1997 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll.
Titles on disc 1
1.
One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces
2.
Fair
3.
Brick
4.
Song For The Dumped
5.
Selfless Cold And Composed
6.
Kate
7.
Smoke
8.
Cigarette
9.
Steven's Last Night In Town
10.
Battle Of Who Could Care Less
11.
Missing The War
12.
Evaporated
13.
Video Killed The Radio Star (bonus track)
14.
For All The Pretty People (bonus track)
15.
Mitchell Lane (bonus track)
16.
Dr. Pyser (theme/bonus track)
17.
Air (bonus track)
18.
She Don't Use Jelly (Lounge-A-Palooza version/bonus track)
19.
Song For The Dumped (Japanese version/bonus track)
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Listed on Ciao since
20/12/2005
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