- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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As good a record as any he's made, possibly his best.
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A worthy, but occasionally frustrating album...
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Folds seems to want to please everyone on the disc, making the listening experience a bit haphazard, if not a little predictable.
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MojoFolds' songwriting continues to impress. [Oct 2001, p.130]
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Sure, it sails close to novelty record territory but Folds demonstrates exceptional skill in marrying wryly observational lyrics to upbeat piano-driven craziness.
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Sometimes the humor verges on camp (the title track), or the poignance drowns in Barry Manilow-isms ("Still Fighting It"). But mostly, Folds' songcraft is a winning mixture of the plush and the prickly...
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SpinIn many ways, this is his 'Nylon Curtain.' [Sep 2001, p.160]
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But for all of its snickers, ''Suburbs'' is serious business -- a pop fantasia that seals Folds' rep as the Cole Porter of underclass underdogs.
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Alternative PressFolds cracks jokes and spins incredibly sad tales with no restraint or common sense, and oddly enough, we love him for it. [Oct 2001, p.79]
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BlenderWhen he's not being sour, Folds' flair for melody and simple, economical arrangements can create wonderful moments. [Aug/Sep 2001, p.122]
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He still tinkles the ivories with dazzling skill and his scything comments on breaking-up and the emotionally inept are all too easy to identify with, yet the most enamouring thing is that he manages to do this all without being zany or patronising.
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Although the album is far from a failure, it rarely reaches the peak of its creators potential.
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Like the best of BF5, it's both plaintive and punky.
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The new Ben Folds is a lot like the old one: as unpredictable as he is talented.
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Shredding PaperThat dirty "sellout" feeling does go away with time, as the subtle touches and clever songwriting ease some of Folds' production changes. [#11]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 44 out of 49
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Mixed: 1 out of 49
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Negative: 4 out of 49
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Dec 14, 2019The greatest album I’ve ever listened to. That’s all I have to say about this incredible album
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SpeedyG.Jul 5, 2007An unbelievable album - just like songs for silverman, but still fightng it, the luckiest and fred jones are the best songs i haev ever heard.
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LeifSJan 14, 2007Although this album was good, I felt it wasn't to the best of Ben Fold's potential.