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Songs for Silverman

Summary

Songs for Silverman is the second 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.

Songs for Silverman
Studio album by
Ben Folds
ReleasedApril 25, 2005[1]
Recorded2004
GenreAlternative rock
Length44:08
Label
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]
Pitchfork5.8/10[6]
Playlouder[7]
PopMatters4/10[1]
Rolling Stone[8]
Stylus MagazineC+[9]
Uncut[2]

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 edit

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 edit

The song "Gracie" is written about Folds' daughter. He had previously written one about his son Louis on Rockin' the Suburbs, called "Still Fighting It," and he often performs the two songs together during live shows.

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

Track listing edit

All songs written by Ben Folds, except where noted.

  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" (Delmar Arnaud, Calvin Broadus, Jr., Ricardo Brown, Tracy Curry, Colin Wolfe, Andre Young) – 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 edit

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

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

Personnel edit

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)

Charts edit

Chart performance for Songs for Silverman
Chart (2005) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 9
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[12] 84
Irish Albums (IRMA)[13] 68
UK Albums (OCC)[14] 65
US Billboard 200[15] 13

References edit

  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. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. 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. ^ Breskin, Nicole (31 August 2006). "Ben Folds sets his Jewish record straight". Ynetnews.
  11. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ben Folds". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  14. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "Ben Folds Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.

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