MusicBoxer.com

Ben Folds played the Rialto in Tucson. It was somewhat crowded and hot. I think it’s time the Rialto invested in a better cooling system..

Ben (as I like to call him) was energetic and talkative. He told a lot of stories, talked a lot about sweating & completely nerded out at least twice. He’s a charming story teller and it’s clear that he loves what he does.

For me, the show as bittersweet. It reminded me why I fell in love with Ben Folds 15 years ago – catchy, eccentric lyrics, energetic melodies, interesting composition, nerdiness. But his new stuff just isn’t as good, and Ben knows it. The crowds tell him every night.

The crowd in Tucson was clearly like me – there because they had been Ben Folds fans for more than 10 years and wanted to see him nerd-out on the piano. When they played new songs “Levi Johnston’s Blues,” ‘Effinton” and “Sleezy” (his YouTube famous Ke$ha cover), the crowd cheered and bopped. Those songs are good, but they’re glorified pop, playing to the lowest common denominator, and that’s now why we feel in love with Ben Folds. Ben Folds made you think and wrote quirky songs that captured a situation or emotion you didn’t think could be put into music.

And so when “Effington” ended, we stood wondering when he’d play “Army” or if he’d play “Emaline.”

And he did, and we all stood and sweat and smiled.

As I started listening to The Belle Brigade’s self-title debut album, it felt familiar almost immediately. Ethan & Barbara Gruskin, the brother-sister duo, delivers an album of harmony-laden almost-soft rock reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Alison Krauss, Prince, the Indigo Girls and many, many, many more.

Their most acclaimed song, “Losers,” is an appropriately hipster-fied anthem about mediocrity. The song has a distinct sound that really shows promise. The problem? That distinct sound isn’t found many other places on the album. Many of their songs, like “Sweet Louise” and “Rusted Wheel,” feel like an odd indie/pop rock Girl Talk experiment. Other songs, like “My Goodness” and “Lucky Guy,” sound like a flash forward to Glee’s 5th season.

The Belle Brigade is considered by many to be the next super indie band. I mean, sure – they wear skinny pants, have nerdy hair, and use quirky harmonies, but I just don’t buy it. The Gruskins have put out a good first album that’s fun to listen to and sticks in your head – but it isn’t revolutionary and it certainly isn’t new.

As a hardcore, old school fan of The Decemberists, I’ve been worried that they were over promoting their new album, The King is Dead, to bring in new (read: dumber) fans that wouldn’t notice they’ve strayed from their indie lit-rock roots. After listening to the album a few dozen (yes, dozen) times, I would say that I was somewhat justified in my concerns.

All in all, it’s a good album. In fact, I have enjoyed the hell out of it and often find songs like “Rise to Me” running through my head. It’s slow, sweet melodies are reminiscent of ballads like “Grace Cathedral Hill” on Castaways and Cutouts. Similarly the sea shanty-esque, accordion-laced “Rox in the Box” feels like the nerdy cousin of “The Shanty for Arethusa” from Her Majesty. And for better or worse, the list goes on.

That’s not to say it’s completely an album of reboots. The album has songs that surprised me, like “Down by the Water” and “All Arise” that makes me wonder if Collin recently rediscovered his dusty copy of Wilco’s AM. As a fan of alt-country, I’m personally excited about the increased presence of the steel guitar and hope it’s continues.

Commercially, I can see this album being much more successful than previous albums. It has a great mix of reboots and new material that is sure to keep dragging the original lit-rock fans as well as new (read: dumber) fans along their journey. And maybe even some radio play! Sellouts.

I’m going to be honest with you – I didn’t listen to Ben Fold’s new album Lonely Avenue all the way through. I tried many, many times, but just couldn’t do it. Even with the album blaring, I found myself listening to the hum of the refrigerator or the grinding noise my car makes when I apply the brakes. My brain was actually protecting me from Ben Folds, a true evolutionary feat.

Is the album really so bad that listening to my brakes grind was more pleasant? I don’t know. But what I do know is that the album seems to be a re-imagining of every Ben Folds (Five) song I hate. So, if you like the one to two shitty songs on previous Ben Folds (Five) albums, then this one’s for you. Personally, I recommend saving a step and just listening to your refrigerator.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova have put out another album. You might know them as “Whiny Irish” and “Mousy Czech.”

W.I. seems to have learned how to sing without constantly straining his vocal chords for this album. When W.I. and M.C. sing together, the few times you can actually hear them both, they still hit a pleasingly awkward harmony that makes you simultaneously cringe and want more. Like many other bands in their indie-rock genre.

In theory, I’m a fan of the songs on this album, but after a while they feel overwhelmingly formulaic. They start slow and quiet — sometimes so slow and quiet I took a little nap. And then they build to an exciting, repetitive-chord guitar and piano fueled chorus that repeats three more times than you think it should. I get it already, you’re “feeling the pull.” It’s the g.d. title of the song; you don’t have to say it 14 times in 2:08 minutes.

My conclusion? Their album is a sub-par as this review. Whiny Irish & Mousy Czech have toned down their odd-ball indie ways that may prove to distance them from the Hoodie-Nation fanboys that keep Once off independent movie rental store shelves. Maybe now they’ll secure a permanent rotation on the adult contemporary radio station with their cousins from The Fray.