Just One Look Is All It Took…
Posted on October 5th, 2008 by Josh Hathaway
I went back and listened to Songs For Silverman and immediately heard what’s wrong with Ben Folds’ new album.
The sound on Silverman is better. The melodies and the vocals are better. Silverman just works. I’m remembering just how much I love “Landed.” There is a passage in that song where Folds does something with the melody and the harmonies that I swear I’ve heard him do somewhere else before and I just can’t place it right now… It’s this very Bacharach-esque change and I just love it.
I’m not giving up on Way To Normal yet. Too many times I’ve shit on a record only to eat that shit later, so I’ll listen again but I don’t see a way to hear it differently right now.
Filed under: Tags: Ben Folds
I haven’t heard it yet and honestly don’t have too much interest in it right now, but I have been reading some stuff from fellow sound-freaks like me and they’re appalled at the sound quality of the new Folds album, so you are not alone. He and Metallica must be hanging out together at the mastering console, giving each other tips.
“Landed” is about the only thing I can remember off of Silverman, unfortunately. I fear that Rockin’ the Suburbs may have been my exit point, which is too bad because I really did like him (and the Five) up to that point.
I’m glad I’m not alone on the sound quality. I’m not a full-on audiophile and don’t always have complete confidence in my ears. I was a bit shocked at how shoddy the sound was on first listen.
I’m revisiting songs from earlier BF5 and BF albums and enjoying how good so many of them are. I’m not sure Way To Normal is going to get there for me.
Man, I think you’re maybe wrong on the new Ben Folds.
The sound…is different. Especially for him. He’s mostly done well-miked, clear, straight-ahead piano-driven pop.
Now he’s monkeying around more. I think it’s probably for a reason–it’s a claustrophobic sound, one that doesn’t necessarily disagree with the lyrical content.
I’m pondering my Blogcritics review right now and that’s where I’m at. Not all the songs have really blown me away yet but I do think it’s a strong record.
I don’t think so Matt. I don’t have the album, but even via Amazon’s preview clips I can hear this album is simply a victim of modern mastering - excess compression and limiting is evident all over this just like with the new Metallica (not as bad, however, but no less annoying.) There’s being clever in the mixing stage and then there’s this. There are plenty of ways to elicit the feeling of claustrophobia in the listener, including just writing good songs. This is just flat, lifeless, dimensionless. That’s not claustrophobic. It’s just off-putting. I have seen that the vinyl mastering is much better. (Have to wonder why they couldn’t just use the vinyl master on CD like Mudcrutch did with their vinyl/CD combo and will do with their upcoming live EP.)
I’m starting to wonder if maybe the labels are purposely putting really bad masters out on CD now to force people to buy vinyl - it’s much harder to rip vinyl for Ipods, which both helps their fight against piracy and encourages sales of downloads. Sounds paranoid and yet . . .
I think we’re beginning to reach a tipping point on the loudness scale. Pop music and beat-driven music won’t soon turn the other direction but I think you’re going to see more and more bands discover you can turn it down without turning it down, if you know what I mean.
I almost can’t get past the sound to decide if I like the songs.
I guess I just don’t hear that. I’m pretty much a 100% digital guy now–I don’t own any CDs, as I’ve ripped them all to mp3, and I’ve tried hard not to look back.
At some point, whatever this album is–overmastered, or consciously brittle–someone had to know what was happening. I’m guessing that was Folds himself. I don’t think he has much of a reputation for not being involved in the creative process of his own albums.
So I think it needs to be looked at as a decision, and not some random event that’s been happening to certain records. I’d be curious to know if anyone’s asked Metallica how their album came to sound the way it does. I’m not saying that the mastering “defects” you guys are pointing out aren’t necessarily there; I just don’t think it’s unfair to consider this as a conscious move on Folds’ part.