Far from 'Normal'

Stretching a career beyond a decade is an unbelievable feat within the music industry. Artists are shelved by labels every day, and only some who make it with a few hits can sustain themselves past their second album.

Ben Folds is no such artist.

An anomaly of large proportions, the quirky, piano-playing singer/songwriter who got his start with band Ben Folds Five nearly a decade and a half ago is still going strong, and with his recent solo release Way to Normal, he proves that he still has a lot of fight left in him.

Although he has never been short on confidence, Way to Normal shows that Folds has finally found his groove after years of experimenting.

Way to Normal is Folds on speed; vamped and supercharged, it relies heavily on the addition of synthesizer loops and the resonance of the Folds Five fuzzy bass.

With this batch of songs, Folds has expanded his sound without detracting from the grandiose nature that his orchestrations usually embody.

From the soulful vocal melismas of “Dr. Yang” to the writhing social observations of “Free Coffee” and “The Frown Song,” Folds delivers a dose of over-the-top songwriting.  
However, the strongest track is the most subdued. “You Don’t Know Me,” the first single that features Regina Spektor, is basic in its composition but unbelievably strong in its delivery.

Folds also recalls his sentimental side with personal numbers “Cologne” and “Kylie from Connecticut” that serve as a beautiful break from the insanity.

This lovable charm does fade on the ridiculous “Errant Dog” and “Effington.” Nevertheless, Folds is solid and consistent, so it’s easy forgive his outrageous lyrical nature.

Folds’ arrangements are pristine and catchy, and if he wrote more mature lyrics and caught up with his forward-thinking music, there’d be no stopping him.