Ben Folds

Ben Folds

We're going to change things up today.  Did you ever enjoy jazz music?  How about swing?  Some of us here on the indie team do, but still, others feel the styles a little outdated.  What about Pop Jazz/Pop Piano?  Oh yes.  We love Ben Folds.  He exemplifies the idea of Pop Piano with his newer music by using three simple instruments.  Four piece bands dominate the industry.  Sometimes people try and get out of that by having five guitar players, three lead singers, and two drummers.  We find that stupid.  But when you take three musicians, give them simple instruments, and they make an awesome sound, you know for a fact that that band is talented.

Lets start things with the bass guitar.  This instrument doesn't get as much credit as it deserves.  But when Ben Folds uses it to give his listeners some low tones, people always want more.  In the songs of Ben Folds, the bass guitar doesn't really have leads, but it provides the song with great tones.  As Benny Boy plays the high tones of the piano, the bass player evens out the sound with bass slides and distortion.  It sounds awesome.  One song that we really love the bass in is called "Brainwascht" from the Way to Normal album.  There are tons of bass runs in this song and these parts really set the mood for the song.

Lets move on to the drums.  There is only one word that can describe the new sound of Ben Folds.  Simple!  Simple is what we love as the Indie Team.  The drummer isn't trying to stand out from the other musicians by playing crazy grooves or playing too loud.  He's just back there setting the foundation for the song.  And we're not saying that his beats are easy either.  A simple sound is much different from an easy sound.  The drummer provides the listener with ghost notes and cool open high hat hits.  These beats are not easy to play, but they're easy to listen to and comprehend.  We love the drums in any Ben Folds Song.  To hear some cool drums, check out the song "Hiroshima" from the Way to Normal album.

We saved the best for last.  The piano.  We love the way Ben Folds plays, but the more we listen, the more we love his chord progressions.  They have a different sound to them.  And we can't describe it.  Ben Folds can base his chord progressions around any feeling that he wants to project.  Whether it's an upbeat song, or a slow ballad, Ben Folds emmits those emotions through the chords.  They sound so good.  One of the many songs that show this, would be "Underground," one of Ben Folds's earlier tunes. 

Ben Folds is a great musician.  We're almost positive that you'll be listening to his music for weeks and weeks after hearing him for the first time.  What are some of your favorite Ben Folds songs?  Post some comments so that we can talk!

Official Website: www.benfolds.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/benfolds
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BenFolds

Like Ben folds? Be sure to check out the pop piano awesomeness of Jacob Vanags