I was a college student in the early 90s and I also disagree with you about Doolittle being frontloaded. That's actually the last criticism I would expect. In fact, the 'big hits' that everybody went crazy over were "Here Comes Your Man" and "Monkey Gone to Heaven".

Anyway, I like your review - you noted some references that I hadn't thought about before.

Way To Normal
 

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Album #22: Way To Normal (2008)
Ben Folds
Genre: Alternative Rock
Dedicated to MB Member: Sleepy Jack

1. "Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)"
2. "Dr. Yang"
3. "The Frown Song"
4. "You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)"
5. "Before Cologne"
6. "Cologne"
7. "Errant Dog"
8. "Free Coffee"
9. "Bitch Went Nuts"
10. "Brainwascht"
11. "Effington"
12. "Kylie From Connecticut"


What turns out to be one the best albums I bought in 2008 took me until the calendar year of 2009 to appreciate. At first this audible assembly of upbeat ballads and swift stepping symphonies reads as a collection of hits and misses by eventually settled into to me as a solid and complete album. Elements of humor and poignancy, staples of any Ben Folds record are layered within as usual, this one taking a more optimistic and enthusiastic approach overall. I’m still waiting to find a Ben Folds album I don’t like, so saying that this might have risen to the rank of my overall favorite is high praise.
This album opens with “Hiroshima” as Ben Folds share a humorous anecdote about falling of the stage in Japan during a tour before the albums release. As usual it folds trenchant piano playing and inscrutable lyrical delivery taking center stage and right out of the shoot Folds shows his musical aptitude with a brilliant bridge portion of the song bringing it to a final choral climax. The energy continues through two very fast and friendly numbers followed by the albums most immediate standout. “You Don’t Know Me” featuring the lovely Regina Spektor is a fantastic duet that is a fun as it is charming. “Cologne” is next and was good enough to get its own intro track and is the first one to real pull at your emotions. Ben Folds does this like few modern artists. The album does not have the same grab in the second half that the beginning does, but upon further review I’ve found a number of interesting, individual songs including a personal favorite “Free Coffee” which lyrically I can’t decide to take serious or laugh out loud at. A few more energetic numbers including the sure to please “Bitch Went Nuts” before concluding with the possibly foreshadowing finale and it’s more amorous melody.
With Ben Folds even the songs that don’t speak to you are hard not to enjoy. There is a musical quality that transcends accessibility; it’s not just that it’s easy it’s appealing. It’s his ability to mix levity and humility with pure unbridled emotion. A Captivating talent both vocally and on the instrumentally; in addition to tickling the Ivory Ben took on the synthesizer and mellotron for this album. Folds conducts himself as if he’s doing exactly what he wants musically and if he’s that smart there is no telling what we might see down the road.

Thanks Engine, I tend to really like the first half plus of the album and not mind any of it, I still think the majority of the best tracks are in the first 6 or 7. I guess I was pretty much wrong about the reception to the album, I most have been in the wrong place because Minnesota was not big on the sound.

Hey, I really dig this thread. Props to you, and good luck with rebuilding.

The Exciting Wilson Pickett
 

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Album: #23 The Exciting Wilson Pickett (1966)
Wilson Pickett
Genre: Soul
Dedicated to MB Member: SATCHMO

1. "Land of 1000 Dances"
2. "Something You Got"
3. "634-5789 (Soulsville USA)”
4. "Barefootin'"
5. "Mercy Mercy"
6. "You're So Fine"
7. "In the Midnight Hour"
8. "Ninety-nine and a Half
9. "Danger Zone"
10. "I'm Drifting"
11. "It's All Over"
12. "She's So Good to Me"


Perhaps no album has ever been more fittingly titled then this 1960’s Rhythm & Blues\Soul classic. Wilson Pickett is pure adrenaline as a performer and in his early but slightly refined days never was it on better display. An album packed with hits that helped tear down the barrier between “black” and “white” music in civil rights era United States. A musical descendant of his greatest idol, Little Richard and a voice refined in the heart of the motor city, Pickett would eventually rise to stardom however with Memphis based Stacks records. This was his breakout performance and though he was not an album oriented artist, there is no denying this collection of songs.
F eaturing perhaps most notably his most synonymous title “Land of 1,000 Dances” which highlights a confident and powerful Pickett shouting his way through the entire horn driven cyclone of a song. Contrasting the more mellow and consistent but equally powerful “Midnight Hour” which is a fantastic groove, Picketts range is on display throughout the album and the early era of his career. Both of the aforementioned titles were chart toppers along with “Ninety-nine and a half won’t do” and “634-5789”. In addition “I’m Drifting” and “It’s all over” along with the cover of Bobby Womack’s “She’s so good to me” make for a pleasant closing group.
There is no hiding from the obvious connection between me and the music of Wilson Pickett. He is one of the artists I most distinctly remember hearing from a young age. In addition his influence is one of those most responsible for the careers of some of my absolute favorites like Van Morrison, who makes direct and indirect references to Pickett throughout his music. Including borrowing several lines of lyrics from “Midnight Hour” mixed within 1972’s “Listen to the Lion”. It’s a shame to think the music of this era has been heavily resigned to “Oldies” stations and Wedding B-Lists, but there are those who still stumble on it and almost inevitable come to love it. It’s infectious, joyous music and we’ll never have enough of that.



Funky Broadway and Land of 1,000 Dances: Hilarious (must see) moment that will make you appreciate what he was doing when he was doing it even more

You know I wanted to like this, I really did, because "Songs for Silverman", "Rockin the Suburbs", and "Whatever..." are some really great fun albums but I just found Way To Normal ridiculously bland and uninspired.

Maybe give it a second go, as I mentioned in the first paragraph of the review it took me a while to get on board.

Thanks for Reading Dac, always nice to see the young blood stopping by.

Good reviews and so, so, so sorry to hear about your music man. I thought I lost all of my music a few days ago and I was ready to punch the ****ing wall in about ten times over. If you throw me a list of all the artists your looking for I might be able to save you some time.

I've pretty much covered it, there is a lot i haven't replaced, but I can't remember what and until I do I suppose I can just live without it.

Thanks Schizotypic and to everyone for their concern and generosity.