London, UK. (Top40 Charts/ SONY BMG MUSIC Entertainment) - Over the last 15 years, Ben Folds' first-class melodic gifts, irony-laced lyrics, and punk-rock tendency to play piano as it were a contact sport have earned the North Carolina native a legion of devoted fans of all ages. These people, quite simply, are going to go nuts for Way To Normal.
The album, Folds' third solo studio release, is dominated by the kind of irresistible hooks and piano-pounding pandemonium that listeners haven't been treated to since Folds' years with his previous band, the platinum-selling
Ben Folds Five.
Way to Normal is an exuberant, raucous, and sometimes profane mix of sure-fire crowd-pleasers ("Hiroshima," "Bitch Went Nuts," and the frenetically fuzzed-out "Dr. Yang"), cheerful snark-fests ("The Frown Song," "Brainwascht"), and thoughtful, moving ballads ("Cologne," "Kylie From Connecticut") that Folds wrote at the end of 2007 following the finalization of a two-year divorce.
The 41-year-old father of eight-year-old twins has been going pretty much non-stop since the 2001 release of his debut solo album Rockin' the Suburbs, which has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. In short order, Folds has released a live album (2002's aptly titled Ben Folds Live) and a pioneering series of three Internet-only digital EP's: Speed Graphic (which topped the Billboard Internet Album, iTunes, and Soundscan Downloadable Tracks charts), Sunny 16, and Super D in 2003-2004; co-wrote and produced William Shatner's 2004 solo album Has Been; released Songs for Silverman (which featured the Adult Top 40 hit "Landed"); contributed three original songs to the soundtrack for the 2006 film Over the Hedge; and produced a forthcoming solo album by Dresden Dolls frontwoman Amanda Palmer.
In 2006, Folds released Supersunnyspeedgraphic, The LP- a compilation of tracks from the Internet-only EP's and B-sides, including an inspired cover of Dr. Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit," which climbed to No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100, sold 75,000 digital singles at iTunes, and became the No. 1 most-downloaded song in Europe in early 2007. "It's my biggest hit," jokes Folds.
Along the way, there have been numerous tours, including a few with The Bens, a "supergroup" Folds formed with fellow singer-songwriters Ben Kweller and Ben Lee in 2003, as well tours with Rufus Wainwright and Guster in 2004, and John Mayer in 2007. A classically trained percussionist, Folds has also gone back to his roots by performing with various orchestras over the years, including the West Australian Symphony and the Baltimore Symphony in 2005 and the Boston Pops in 2007. In September 2008, Folds will perform with the Nashville Symphony, opening their 2008-2009 season.
1. Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hits His Head)
2. Dr Yang
3. The Frown Song
4. You Don't Know Me (ft. Regina Spector)
5. Before Cologne
6. Cologne
7. Errant Dog
8. Free Coffee
9. Bitch Went Nuts
10. Brainwascht
11. Effington
12. Kylie From Connecticut
