Jump to content

Songs for Silverman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Tom.Reding (talk | contribs) at 20:59, 28 September 2019 (Category:CS1 errors: deprecated parameters: migrate 2/2 |dead-url= to |url-status=; minor cleanup; WP:GenFixes on). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Songs for Silverman
Studio album by
Ben Folds
ReleasedApril 25, 2005[1]
Recorded2004
GenreAlternative rock
Length44:08
LabelSony (UK)
5170122 (CD)
5170123 (CD/DVD)
Epic (US)
E 87104 (LP)
EK 87104 (CD/DVD)
EN 94191 (DualDisc)
ProducerBen Folds, John Mark Painter
Ben Folds chronology
Super D
(2004) 		Songs for Silverman
(2005) 		Songs for Goldfish
(2005)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic69/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [3]
Alternative Press [2]
Drowned in Sound8/10 [4]
Entertainment WeeklyB+ [5]
Pitchfork Media5.8/10 [6]
Playlouder [7]
PopMatters4/10 [1]
Rolling Stone [8]
Stylus MagazineC+ [9]
Uncut [2]

Songs for Silverman is the second solo studio album by Ben Folds, released in April 2005 by Epic Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200, making it Folds' highest-charting album until the release of Way to Normal in 2008.

The album is named after Ben Goldman, Folds' former A&R representative at Sony BMG. Folds explained, "I was always sending songs to him for the album, so I wanted to name it after him. But somebody (from Sony) found out and flipped out, so I changed it a bit and turned it in."[10] Goldman's name also spawned the title of Folds' compilation album Songs for Goldfish.

Singles

The first single, "Landed", reached No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the Adult Top 40. A planned United Kingdom issue was cancelled, though the single received a digital-only release.

The single "Jesusland" reached No. 2 on the UK airplay chart in October 2005. It has also been playlisted by Xfm London and BBC Radio 2 (which lists it as "download only"). The track was slated for a UK single release in September 2005, but it never made it to store shelves. The video for the single features Matt Lucas as a televangelist interspersed with scenes of a journey through what may well be "Jesusland" itself. The track was featured in the 2008 documentary Religulous.

The album's next UK single, "Late", was written as a tribute to the recently deceased singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.

Other songs

The song "Gracie" is written about Folds' daughter. Folds also wrote a song about his son Louis on Rockin' the Suburbs, called "Still Fighting It".

"Weird Al" Yankovic, who directed Folds' video for "Rockin' the Suburbs," contributes backing vocals to "Time."

Track listing

All songs written by Ben Folds

  1. "Bastard" – 5:23
  2. "You to Thank" – 3:36
  3. "Jesusland" – 4:30
  4. "Landed" – 4:28
  5. "Gracie" – 2:40
  6. "Trusted" – 4:08
  7. "Give Judy My Notice" – 3:37
  8. "Late" – 3:58
  9. "Sentimental Guy" – 3:03
  10. "Time" – 4:30
  11. "Prison Food" – 4:15
LP-only bonus track
  2. "Bitches Ain't Shit" – 3:54
Japan-only bonus track
  2. "Side of the Road" – 2:58
DVD-only bonus track
  2. "Landed" (Strings Version) – 4:46

DVD listing

  • The Making of Songs for Silverman
  • Live performances
  • Interviews
  • Behind the scene footage

The DualDisc additionally contains the entire album in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

Personnel

The Band:

  • Ben Folds – piano, vocals
  • Jared Reynolds – bass, vocals
  • Lindsay Jamieson – drums, vocals

Additional Musicians:

  • Bucky Baxter – pedal steel (7, 11), 12-string guitar (7)
  • Frally Folds – backing vocals (7)
  • David Henry – cello (3, 5)
  • Ned Henry – violin (3)
  • John Mark Painter – double bass (5, 9), French horn (9)
  • Al Yankovic – backing vocals (10)

References

  1. ^ a b Schiller, Mike (May 13, 2005). "Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman". PopMatters. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Critic Reviews for Songs For Silverman". Metacritic. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  3. ^ Songs for Silverman at AllMusic
  4. ^ Ridgway, Julian (May 9, 2005). "Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  5. ^ Willman, Chris (May 20, 2005). "Songs for Silverman Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  6. ^ Pitchfork Media review
  7. ^ Allen, Jeremy (April 28, 2005). "Songs For Silverman". Playlouder. Archived from the original on April 28, 2005. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  8. ^ Hiatt, Brian (May 5, 2005). "Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  9. ^ Passantino, Dom (May 24, 2005). "Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  10. ^ http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3298162,00.html
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Songs_for_Silverman&oldid=918473562"