I would love to tell you that I have followed Ben Folds Five ever since they came on the scene in 1995, but I am pretty much like the rest of you. I first heard Ben Folds Five on the radio with the hit song "Brick" and then I went out and bought the CD, which turned out to be a great decision.

It is really a shame that Ben, Robert, and Darren have gone their separate ways, because they had something really good going.

Contrary to what you might think, Ben Folds Five is comprised of 3 parts.

Ben Folds - piano, vocals
Robert Sledge - bass
Darren Jesse - drums

Whatever and Ever Amen

Songs are rated from 1$ (worst) to 5$ (best).

1. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
One of the best songs of the album, a great way to start off this great album. An upbeat melody with a great performance on the piano by Folds. The tone is set with this song and the catchy chant:

"You'll be sorry one day yes you will, yes you will, you shouldn't push me around, cause I will yes I will."

Good beginnings are good signs.

$$$$

2. Fair
Like many of the songs, this song speaks of love. You will find that most are angry offerings, however, this one is more sincere. The truth is spoke in this line:

"All is fair, all is fair in love."

This song speaks more of the toughness of going through a breakup.

"I just can't get rid of you like you got rid of me."

Can't complain here, a very catchy song.

$$$$1/2

3. Brick
This is the song that has had such great success and led me to buy the album. This is perhaps the most compelling song on the entire album, touching deep issues much more deep than the next (you'll see). A very sad, touching song to say the least. I have heard this song a trillion times on the radio, yet unlike many other songs, I am still not tired of it.

"She's a brick and I'm drowning slowly."

$$$$$

4. Song for the Dumped
The album moves real quick from a sad, deep song in Brick, to this ode to lovers whose relationship has gone wrong. This song is just hilarious to me, all the dumped want back is their money and possessions.

"Give me my money back, and don't forget to give me back my black T-Shirt."

Hey that's all the dumped want back anyways, right.

$$$$

5. Selfless, Cold and Composed
Once again, it seems something went wrong with a relationship here, go figure. This song slows it down a few beats with a nice peaceful tune.

"You've done no wrong, get out of my sight."

$$$1/2

6. Kate
Another upbeat melody, proclaiming "I wanna be Kate." This song has it's fair share of "o, la, la." Still this song is no dud, and is also, like a couple others on this album, quite catchy.

"She's everything I want, She's everything I'm not."

$$$$

7. Smoke
This is the most brilliant song on the album in my estimation. It speaks of throwing away all of the past away into the "fire." This is a slow, meaningful song that you can find yourself listening to, over and over.

"We had it all along, now it's smoke."

$$$$$

8. Cigarette
This song uses only the piano, and lasts only about a minute and a half. It sounds like it would be a good song if it lasted a bit longer, however, with what there is, it seems incomplete.

$$

9. Steven's Last Night in Town
This song is a cynical tune about a friend that says he is leaving but never actually hits the road. This song has the great vibe to it, and even though the lyrics are simple it is a wonderful song.

"Cause everyone knows now that every night now will be Steven's, last night in town."

$$$$

10. The Battle of Who Could Care Less
Here is another humorous song, targeting those folks who fight over petty topics. All that is achieved is what is called by the band "unearned unhappiness."

"Will you never rest, fighting the battle of who could care less, unearned happiness, that's ok i guess."

$$$$

11. Missing the War
If I have interpreted out this slow tune, it speaks about someone that continues to evade trouble spots in their life, instead of facing them. Great in itself, but not as great as "Smoke."

"I'm missing the war, till beads of sunlight hit me in the morning."

$$$$$

12. Evaporated
This song is sad in two rights. Firstly the obvious, it is the last song on this awesome album. Secondly, this soft song speaks of pouring your heart out, just to see it evaporated. The lyrics of this song have also shown meaning in light of the bands recent breakup. On one of the fan websites for Ben Folds Five it reads "It evaporated, see?" Perfect ending to a near perfect album.

$$$$$

Final Scores
This album's final $ score is 4.17. However, I feel it is unfair to count "Cigarette" due to its shortness, therefore I find the final $ score to be 4.37, which will round up to a 5.(Note: when rating anything above a number will be rounded up to the nearest whole number, i.e. 1.1=2, 3.9=4)

This a terrific album that combines piano savvy and pop and wise lyrics and a little bit of everything. It is a shame that we will not hear anything else from Ben Folds Five again, since all three members have gone their separate ways, however, all three have different projects, and Ben Folds has an album coming out soon. So with all that said, if you do not have "Whatever and Ever, Amen" then you should get it ASAP or you are missing out.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Reading or Studying