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“The Luckiest” cover
As we know, Folds loves to cover other artists in his own style, or to do so in a style that totally departs from the original in a parodic way. The Dr. Dre song that we know and love comes to mind, for instance. Most of Ben’s own music, though, is quirky or otherwise unique enough that it renders best when he alone performs it. On occasion, however, a cover of one of his songs by another artist comes along that takes the song in either a new direction or further along the path into another genre, such as the Thievery Corporation’s remix of In Love from William Shatner’s album Has Been that Ben provided the music and backing vocals on, or Bette Midler’s redo of Boxing on her 1998 album Bathhouse Betty. Truest of all seems to be the Yellowcard cover of Missing the War.
Now, singer Sara Gazarek has nicely covered one of Ben’s ballads, The Luckiest, on her new album Blossom and Bee, just out last month. (more…)
“TSOTLOTM” drops September 18
Even though most, if not all, of the songs will be out and about already, the reunited Ben Folds Five’s recently recorded album The Sound of the Life of the Mind will be officially released on September 18 through Ben’s longtime Sony Music affiliation. Taking a leaf from the PledgeMusic campaign making contributors all “vice-presidents of promotion,” the album’s on the “ImaVeePee Records” imprint.
In addition to the already-out Do It Anyway, the Folds/Sledge/Jessee collab contains the tracks Erase Me, Michael Praytor Five Years Later, Sky High, The Sound of the Life of the Mind, On Being Frank, Draw a Crowd, Hold That Thought, Away When You Were Here, and Thank You For Breaking My Heart.
Fans who donated to the PledgeMusic project will get access to the tracks earlier than the album release date.
A short tour of US venues has been announced for September and early October, followed by a few dates in Australia and several in the UK and Ireland; details are on the tour dates page.
Fall BF5 shows announced
Fresh on the tour schedule are Ben Folds Five shows here and there across the south and midwest, and one in Holyoke, Massachusetts, in September. In addition to the previously announced shows in New York and Pensacola, new shows are added in North and South Carolina, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Austin and Kansas City. Tickets on sale this week; see the tour dates page for more.
Folds-produced Sara Bareilles EP in stores today
The five-song EP Once Upon Another Time from singer-songwriter and The Sing-Off judge Sara Bareilles hits stores, both physical and virtual, today. The project was produced by Ben Folds, whom Sara has known for a few years since she guested with Ben at a couple of his shows, but this is the first collaboration of the two. Rolling Stone has a preview along with a free download of the title song.
