Ben Folds Live

If you drew a straight line from Randy Newman through Todd Rundgren it would probably hit Ben Folds right in the middle of his irony-laced, pop-loving heart. Folds, the singer/songwriter/keyboard whiz behind the Ben Folds Five (a trio, natch) is on his own these days, selling out venues from Memphis to St. Joe, wherever the four winds blow. And here's smoking-gun evidence: a career-spanning, 17-track live smorgasbord, groaning with Five classics, solo gems and startling covers -- all on high-definition vinyl to catch every sparkling nuance from this crafty North Carolinian. It's Ben Folds, the way he goes down best -- LIVE!

Ben Folds Live is a stellar exception to the rule that live albums are contractually obliged stocking fillers. Folds is at his best on stage with only a grand piano for company. He is a compelling showman who's blessed with an unforced charm that complements the anger and melancholy that informs most of his songs: the self-lacerating "Army" loses nothing by having a hall of people bellowing the saxophone and trumpet parts as Folds conducts them. The material here spans Folds' work with the three-piece Ben Folds Five as well as 2001's excellent solo debut. The readings of "Fred Jones," "The Luckiest," and "Brick" display an immediacy and intimacy that transcend the recorded versions. A couple of worthwhile curiosities--a minor chord rearrangement of "Song for the Dumped" and a faithful, affecting version of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" round out the offerings. This is an impeccable document of a superior performer at work. --Andrew Mueller