On the evidence of Rockin' the Suburbs, Ben Folds's decision to jettison the two-piece Five that had backed him on four largely excellent albums has not resulted in any significant shift in trajectory. The Ben Folds Five were only getting better, gradually discovering the confidence not to hide their musical uniqueness (there have been too few piano-led power trios) and lyrical intelligence behind undergrad Barenaked Ladies-style gags. Songs like "Mess" and "Brick" signaled an extraordinary new songwriting talent worthy of comparison to Folds's obvious idols, Elvis Costello and Paul Simon. Only this album's title track harkens back to Folds's fondness for comedy, and it is by far the weakest track here. The rest is mournful, reflective, and, at best, quite magnificent. Folds's hymns to his family, "Still Fighting It" and "The Luckiest" are shot through with an honesty that's rare in alternative rock. The acerbic essence of character sketches such as "Carrying Cathy," "Losing Lisa," and "Zak & Sara" are leavened with a generous compassion. Folds's second solo effort is his best album yet. The remainder of his career must be anticipated with equal parts expectation and impatience. --Andrew Mueller

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great CD!
Comment: I purchased this CD a few months ago. It has been hard for me to remove it from my CD player. Both my husband and I really like it. The songs are catchy, well written, and a little quirky at times. I purchased the CD for "the Luckiest", but have fallen in love with "Zak and Sara". Really fun and refreshing!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Timeless!
Comment: My daughter was getting married and just before the ceremony, they still had not decided on a song. I went through my CDs in my car and found this album from 2001. I remembered how much I loved this song. Just before the ceremony, I told the groom's cousin to put #12 on as my daughter walked in....EVERYONE says the song is the most beautiful love song they have ever heard. They all keep asking me who sings it and how can they get a copy. There is not a cooler love song out there. Ben Folds is amazing.....Kelley in Canada

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: ben is rockin my suburb
Comment: I love his voice, lyrics, piano talent, and just the way he combines rock and jazz and other things I can't think of names for. Seriously if you have never heard of ben folds before just listen to him please. He is my favorite pianist. I was lucky enough to see him live, and now I experience all the music with a new perspective. And if you play piano, I recommend also purchasing the piano book for this album.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Generally Turdid Radio Dreck
Comment: You know, I really miss Ben Folds Five. The warm feel, the great production, improves, atmosphere (the atmosphere of Hospital Song and Your Most Valuable Possession amazes me with atmosphere).

In it's place, we have Ben Folds dumbing down his music. Sure, the simple music isn't a bad thing, but it just has the magic lost. The living breathing trio of the band is lost, and it just sounds like crap. On top of this, the overproduction hurts the album too. The rhythm section is non existant, and Annie Waits, with it's weak drum beat, is a disaster. These kinds of things really sour it. It feels like radio junk, and it just doesn't click with me. The songs are still catchy, but not great catchy. That's all it has. When I think of the music, I mostly think "hey, this is catchy". Ben Folds Five, on the other hands, brims with swing, melody, warm sunshine, believable music, jazzy solos, interludes, orchestration, infectious vocals, harmonies, and other stuff (like Ooh-la-la heard on Kate). ANd where is the atmosphere? The lo-fi like production of Whatever and Ever Amen really does sound like it's recorded in the buildings, you can really "feel" Brick's taking place in the seat of the car. It works damn well. Rocking The Suburbs has absolutely none of these. It feels like piano pop, and that's it.

Lyrically, Ben is alright, but the songs really don't click with me. Lot's of the lyrics are pretty believable, and I am cool with Ben's lyrics, but I really don't care for them, as they are forgettable, for the most part.

While an overall bad album, yes, there are good songs. Rockin The Suburbs is hands down awesome, mocking bands such as Limp Bizkit, nu-metal in general. And for good reason, I despise those types of bands. Zak and Sara is fun at times (though not excellent). Fired has some great, jazzy piano, sorely lacking on other tracks. Still Fighting It is probably the only that really is gutwrenching. Yes, there are some songs that go into junk, with some good parts, but most of the lot is incredibly faceless and boring.

I realize that, yes, he is older and wiser, but I still don't like this album very much. So _____ you. I still have respect for Ben for the most part, but that doesn't mean I have to like his music. I don't.

4.0/10

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: rockin the suburbs
Comment: excelent cd very palatable for most music fans. Lots of good piano and hidden undertones. I had chills the first time i listened to this cd

---