Songs for Silverman

Last updated
Songs for Silverman
SongsForSilverman.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 25, 2005 [1]
Recorded2004
Genre Alternative rock
Length44:08
Label
Producer Ben Folds, John Mark Painter
Ben Folds chronology
Super D
(2004)
Songs for Silverman
(2005)
Songs for Goldfish
(2005)
Singles from Songs for Silverman
  1. "Landed"
    Released: 2005
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 69/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Alternative Press Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Drowned in Sound 8/10 [4]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [5]
Pitchfork 5.8/10 [6]
Playlouder Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
PopMatters 4/10 [1]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Stylus Magazine C+ [9]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]

Songs for Silverman is the second studio album by Ben Folds, released in April 2005 by Epic Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200, making it Folds' highest-charting album until the release of Way to Normal in 2008.

Contents

The album is named after Ben Goldman, Folds' former A&R representative at Sony BMG. Folds explained, "I was always sending songs to him for the album, so I wanted to name it after him. But somebody (from Sony) found out and flipped out, so I changed it a bit and turned it in." [10] Goldman's name also spawned the title of Folds' compilation album Songs for Goldfish .

Singles

The first single, "Landed", reached No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 40 on the Adult Top 40. A planned United Kingdom issue was cancelled, though the single received a digital-only release.

The single "Jesusland" reached No. 2 on the UK airplay chart in October 2005. It has also been playlisted by Xfm London and BBC Radio 2 (which lists it as "download only"). The track was slated for a UK single release in September 2005, but it never made it to store shelves. The video for the single features Matt Lucas as a televangelist interspersed with scenes of a journey through what may well be "Jesusland" itself. The track was featured in the 2008 documentary Religulous .

The album's next UK single, "Late", was written as a tribute to the recently deceased singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.

Other songs

The song "Gracie" is written about Folds' daughter. He had previously written one about his son Louis on Rockin' the Suburbs , called "Still Fighting It," and he often performs the two songs together during live shows.

"Weird Al" Yankovic, who directed Folds' video for "Rockin' the Suburbs," contributes backing vocals to "Time".

Track listing

All songs written by Ben Folds, except where noted.

No.TitleLength
1."Bastard"5:23
2."You to Thank"3:36
3."Jesusland"4:30
4."Landed"4:28
5."Gracie"2:40
6."Trusted"4:08
7."Give Judy My Notice"3:37
8."Late"3:58
9."Sentimental Guy"3:03
10."Time"4:30
11."Prison Food"4:15

LP-only bonus track

  1. "Bitches Ain't Shit" (Delmar Arnaud, Calvin Broadus, Jr., Ricardo Brown, Tracy Curry, Colin Wolfe, Andre Young) – 3:54

Japan-only bonus track

  1. "Side of the Road" – 2:58

DVD-only bonus track

  1. "Landed" (Strings Version) – 4:46

DVD listing

The DualDisc additionally contains the entire album in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

Personnel

The Band

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart performance for Songs for Silverman
Chart (2005)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [11] 9
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [12] 84
Irish Albums (IRMA) [13] 68
UK Albums (OCC) [14] 65
US Billboard 200 [15] 13

Related Research Articles

<i>Rockin the Suburbs</i> 2001 studio album by Ben Folds

Rockin' the Suburbs is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Ben Folds released on September 11, 2001. His first solo album after leaving his band Ben Folds Five, Rockin' the Suburbs was recorded in Adelaide, Australia, where Folds was living at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Folds Five</span> American alternative rock band

Ben Folds Five was an American alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprised Ben Folds, Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee. The group achieved success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes. Their single "Brick" from the second album, Whatever and Ever Amen (1997), gained airplay on many mainstream radio stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Folds</span> American musician (born 1966)

Benjamin Scott Folds is an American singer-songwriter from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. After playing in several small independent bands throughout the late 80s and into the early 90s, Folds came to prominence as the eponymous frontman and pianist of the alternative rock trio Ben Folds Five from 1993 to 2000, and again during their reunion from 2011 to 2013. He has recorded a number of solo albums – the most recent of which, What Matters Most, was released in June 2023. He has also collaborated with musicians such as Regina Spektor, "Weird Al" Yankovic, and yMusic, and undertaken experimental songwriting projects with actor William Shatner and authors such as Nick Hornby and Neil Gaiman. Since May 2017, he has been the first artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Postal Service</span> American indie pop band

The Postal Service is an American indie pop group from Seattle, Washington, consisting of singer Ben Gibbard, producer Jimmy Tamborello, and Jenny Lewis on background vocals.

<i>Whatever and Ever Amen</i> 1997 studio album by Ben Folds Five

Whatever and Ever Amen is the second album by Ben Folds Five, released on March 18, 1997. Three singles were released from the album, including the lead single, "Battle of Who Could Care Less", which received significant airplay on alternative radio and on MTV, and peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart and number 22 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and the band's biggest hit, "Brick", which was a top-40 song in numerous countries.

<i>Poodle Hat</i> 2003 studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Poodle Hat is the eleventh studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on May 20, 2003. It was the fifth studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop of the early-2000s. The album's lead single, "Couch Potato", is a parody of "Lose Yourself" by Eminem. The single failed to chart, although the album's song "eBay" eventually peaked at 15 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles in 2007.

<i>Lullabies to Paralyze</i> 2005 studio album by Queens of the Stone Age

Lullabies to Paralyze is the fourth studio album by American rock band Queens of the Stone Age, released on March 22, 2005. The album debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200, and sold 97,000 copies in America during its first week of release, eventually topping over 342,000 copies as of March, 2007 according to Nielsen Soundscan. The album has been certified gold in the UK, where it has sold over 100,000 units. It is also the band's first album to be released after bassist Nick Oliveri was fired from the band. Singer/guitarist Josh Homme and singer Mark Lanegan are the only members from the previous album, Songs for the Deaf, to play on this album and it is the first album to feature drummer Joey Castillo and guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen.

<i>Honky Château</i> 1972 studio album by Elton John

Honky Château is the fifth studio album by English musician Elton John. It was released on 19 May 1972, and was titled after the 18th century French chateau where it was recorded, Château d'Hérouville. The album reached number one on the US Billboard 200, the first of John's seven consecutive US number one albums.

<i>This Is Me... Then</i> 2002 studio album by Jennifer Lopez

This Is Me... Then is the third studio album by American singer Jennifer Lopez. It was released on November 25, 2002, by Epic Records. Prior to its release, Lopez began a high-profile relationship with Ben Affleck and a media circus ensued. Her relationship with Affleck served as her main inspiration for the album, which is dedicated to him. Initially scheduled to be released the following year, This Is Me... Then's release date was quickly pushed forward after its lead single, "Jenny from the Block", was purposely leaked by Tommy Mottola, the head of Sony Music Entertainment.

<i>Time Well Wasted</i> 2005 studio album by Brad Paisley

Time Well Wasted is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Brad Paisley. It was released on August 16, 2005, on Arista Nashville. It was the Country Music Association's Album of the Year for 2006.

<i>Blaze of Glory</i> (Jon Bon Jovi album) 1990 studio album by Jon Bon Jovi

Blaze of Glory is the debut solo studio album by Jon Bon Jovi, the frontman of Bon Jovi. The album was released on August 7, 1990, through Mercury Records. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II. Emilio Estevez originally approached Bon Jovi to ask him for permission to include the song "Wanted Dead or Alive" on the soundtrack.

<i>Straight Outta Lynwood</i> 2006 studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic

Straight Outta Lynwood is the twelfth studio album by the American parody musician "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on September 26, 2006, the title drawing inspiration from hip hop group N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton. It was the sixth studio album self-produced by Yankovic. The musical styles on the album are built around parodies and pastiches of pop and rock music of the mid-2000s. The album's lead single, "White & Nerdy", is a parody of Chamillionaire's hit single "Ridin'". The single debuted at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #9 the following week; "Canadian Idiot", a parody of Green Day's "American Idiot", also charted, peaking at #82.

<i>Grand National</i> (album) 2007 studio album by John Butler Trio

Grand National is the fourth album by the John Butler Trio. Somewhere between 22 and 25 songs were considered for this album, some created during or before Sunrise Over Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Folds discography</span>

The discography of Ben Folds, an American singer-songwriter, consists of seven studio albums, two live albums, ten compilation albums, two video albums, eight extended plays, and eighteen singles. See also Ben Folds Five discography.

<i>The Cosmos Rocks</i> 2008 studio album by Queen Paul Rodgers

The Cosmos Rocks is the only studio album by Queen + Paul Rodgers, released on 15 September 2008. It contains 14 new tracks written by Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Paul Rodgers. This is the first studio album of new material from the two remaining members of Queen since 1995's Made in Heaven.

<i>Home Before Dark</i> 2008 studio album by Neil Diamond

Home Before Dark is the twenty-seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Neil Diamond. Released on May 5, 2008, it was the artist's second album for American Recordings.

<i>Way to Normal</i> 2008 studio album by Ben Folds

Way to Normal is the third studio album by Ben Folds. It was released in Japan on September 17, 2008, in Australia on September 27, in UK and Europe on September 29, and in the US on September 30. The album is Folds' highest-charting solo album in the US, reaching #11 on the Billboard 200 in its first week of release.

<i>Leave This Town</i> 2009 studio album by Daughtry

Leave This Town is the second album by the American rock band Daughtry, released on July 14, 2009, by RCA Records. It is the first album that they recorded as a band, as their self-titled debut album was recorded before the band was formed and only lead singer Chris Daughtry was signed to the label. It was also their last album to feature Joey Barnes on drums. The album's style is primarily arena rock, with influences ranging from hard rock to pop rock.

<i>When the Sun Goes Down</i> (Selena Gomez & the Scene album) 2011 studio album by Selena Gomez & the Scene

When the Sun Goes Down is the third and final studio album by American band Selena Gomez & the Scene, released on June 21, 2011, by Hollywood Records. The band worked with several artists on this album, including writers and producers from their debut, Kiss & Tell (2009), and their second album, A Year Without Rain (2010), such as Rock Mafia's Tim James and Antonina Armato, as well as Katy Perry, Devrim "DK" Karaoglu, and Toby Gad. New contributors to this album included Britney Spears, Priscilla Renea, Emanuel Kiriakou, Dreamlab and Sandy Vee.

<i>Wildness</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Snow Patrol

Wildness is the seventh studio album by Northern Irish-Scottish rock band Snow Patrol. The album was released on 25 May 2018. It is their first album with Johnny McDaid as a full member of the band, after his involvement as a guest musician and songwriter on Fallen Empires and participation in its tour. It was also the last Snow Patrol album with longtime members Paul Wilson and Jonny Quinn, who both left the band in September 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 Schiller, Mike (May 13, 2005). "Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman". PopMatters . Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Critic Reviews for Songs For Silverman". Metacritic . Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  3. Songs for Silverman at AllMusic
  4. Ridgway, Julian (May 9, 2005). "Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  5. Willman, Chris (May 20, 2005). "Songs for Silverman Review". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on January 16, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  6. Pitchfork Media review
  7. Allen, Jeremy (April 28, 2005). "Songs For Silverman". Playlouder. Archived from the original on April 28, 2005. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  8. Hiatt, Brian (May 5, 2005). "Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  9. Passantino, Dom (May 24, 2005). "Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman - Review". Stylus Magazine . Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  10. Breskin, Nicole (31 August 2006). "Ben Folds sets his Jewish record straight". Ynetnews.
  11. "Australiancharts.com – Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  13. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ben Folds". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  15. "Ben Folds Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.