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Album Release

Solo album and tour slated for 2023

What Matters Most

After an eight-year recording hiatus, Ben Folds has announced a new album project, What Matters Most, due out June 2. The first song from the album, Kristine from the 7th Grade, was teased last fall, and the first single Winslow Gardens being released this month.

The album will be accompanied by a tour of North American cities including dates previously announced, spanning from April to August. Dates announced so far are on our tour dates page.

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Ben Folds & yMusic vinyl drops November 25

folds_ymusic_liveAs part of a broad release by the independent record shops collectively known as Record Store Day, a new 10-inch vinyl by Ben Folds with yMusic becomes available in limited quantity (only two thousand pressed) on Friday, November 25 (the day after US Thanksgiving).

The EP, simply titled Ben Folds & yMusic In Concert 2015-2016, is on the New West label and assembles a handful of tracks of recent composition as well as one of Folds’ evergreens, and is described as

a live snapshot capturing electrifying “chamber rock” performances by Ben Folds and the immensely talented New York-based classical sextet ensemble yMusic.

For non-hipsters, vinyl records have grooves on both sides of the platter, unlike compact discs that younger baby-boomers and some Gen-Xers are more familiar with. Side A consists of Not a Fan, Erase Me and Capable of Anything. Side B features Phone in a Pool and Steven’s Last Night in Town. If you’re living in the digital world, December 9 is the date to watch for the downloadable version to appear on your favorite digital service provider.

“Suburbs” vinyl reissue set; solo tour later in 2016

suburbs_200A re-release on vinyl of Ben Folds’ 2001 debut solo album Rockin’ the Suburbs is due out in February, and a solo tour later in 2016 is in the early planning stages.

A listing by independent music retailer Bullmoose shows the album set for a February 26 release date for the two-disc set at a list price of $39.99. The pressing will be on 180-gram yellow vinyl and will include Hiro’s Song, the bonus track from the original vinyl release and the Japanese CD. It’s being released by ORG Music, which also re-released the Ben Folds Five album Whatever and Ever Amen.

Following the symphonic tours in the first few months of 2016, Ben has decided to do some solo shows that will showcase some of the hits from Suburbs as well as assorted newer material. The tour is still being put together, so keep an eye out for dates and locations. (more…)

“So There” album details

sothere_200As has been previously announced, Ben Folds’ new album So There comes out on September 11, 2015, and the press is heating up with articles and previews.

So There represents a turning point in Ben’s musical adventures. Last year he teamed up with the New York-based string sextet yMusic to create what represents a departure from his rougher roots and continuing his trend toward working with classical orchestras. (more…)

A five-hour energy drink on tightly-wound strings

Ben Folds

Ben Folds

That’s how NPR music critic Bob Boilen describes Capable of Anything, the first track from the Ben Folds/yMusic album So There, which dropped today on NPR’s All Songs Considered website.

Calling it “the most lovable piece of music I’ve ever heard from Ben Folds,” Boilen praises how yMusic fills in and punctuates the lyrics, which Ben says are about needing to accept and embrace the things you purport to be capable of doing – even the ones that you’re not so proud of. Indeed, the song is a piano romp backed up seamlessly by the lilting flute and neo-baroque winds and strings that yMusic brings to the mix.

The album So There is slated for a September 11 release. Folds and yMusic continue their summer tour.