The Magical Armchair Rotating Header Image

Release day for “Best Imitation”

Oct 10th, 2011
by Frank.
1 comment

So, what do you think of it?

Today (October 10) is the day that Ben’s retrospective compilation Best Imitation of Myself goes on sale in the United Kingdom, and tomorrow (October 11) in the US. If you’ve picked up your copy (that is, if there are any record stores left where you are), have had it delivered, or have downloaded it, let us know what you think! Leave your review in the comments section of this post and we’ll publish the best ones and bounce them over to the Magical Armchair e-mail discussion list (you can subscribe as well, using the box to the right). Is your favorite concert-only song on it? A song from a show you attended? Something you’ve only heard on a fifth-generation mixtape or bootleg, finally in the clear? Let everyone know your first impressions, and enjoy!

Posted in: News.
Tagged: · ·

Own a piece of Ben’s piano

Oct 8th, 2011
by Frank.
Comments are off for this post

The Nashville Symphony

One of the many positives to come out of last year’s tragic floods in Nashville has been increased awareness of the music scene in the Music City beyond its iconic country-western genre. Among the artifacts salvaged from the flood, albeit in an unplayable state, was Ben’s touring piano, locked away in Soundcheck Nashville, a storage facility serving the Nashville musician community, while the rising waters of the Cumberland had their way. Now that the piano has been recovered and dismantled, Ben has autographed its keys, and they will be sold to benefit the Nashville Symphony Orchestra’s annual campaign, which supports arts education in Nashville. (more…)

Posted in: Announcements.
Tagged: ·

The vault is open

Oct 7th, 2011
by Frank.
Comments are off for this post

The collection of 56 historical Ben Folds tracks, the Ben Folds Fifty-Five Vault, is now live and available for download. The list includes many remastered and original songs from Ben’s collection of demo and alternate takes and material from Sony’s vaults as well. More than half the tracks are previously unreleased. The tracks can be purchased here from myplayonline.com. The complete collection costs $29.99, but individual tracks can be purchased for 99 cents each. Those who purchase Best Imitation of Myself, which goes on sale Tuesday, Oct. 11, will get a code which can be redeemed for a free five-song EP containing a sampling of the tracks available for download. The Free Folds Five EP, as it’s known, contains the tracks Dr. Yang, Narcolepsy (with Darren and Robert), and early demos of Song For the Dumped, Steven’s Last Night in Town and Underground. (more…)

Posted in: Announcements.
Tagged: · ·

Lustre fading a bit for “The Sing-Off”

Sep 27th, 2011
by Frank.
Comments are off for this post

Second-episode overnight ratings numbers are in for the third season of NBC’s The Sing-Off, and it confirms the ratings drop for last week’s season premiere when compared with season two. Monday’s (Sept. 26) ratings averaged 1.7, with close to 5 million viewers at the start of the two-hour episode, but falling to just under 4 million toward the end of the program. The first week posted slightly better ratings, averaging 1.8 and around 5 million viewers. Overall, the show is in fourth place for Monday nights, behind shows on CBS, ABC and Fox. (more…)

Posted in: News.
Tagged:

Folds to appear at AES convention

Sep 26th, 2011
by Frank.
Comments are off for this post

The Audio Engineering Society, an international association of audio and acoustic professionals, has announced that Ben Folds will be the guest for a special interview segment during the society’s 131st convention in New York in October. The interview will be conducted by Errol Kolosine, Assistant Arts Professor at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Kolosine is formerly general manager of the Caroline/Astralworks record label, on which Ben Folds Five released its first two albums, the self-titled debut and Whatever and Ever Amen, as well as Naked Baby Photos, a collection of b-sides and alternate takes after the group signed with Sony. (more…)

Posted in: News.
Tagged:

← Earlier Posts Newer Posts →