Similar to previous albums, Ben Folds returns with a reflection on life and feelings of cynicism on his newest work “So There.”
Even the title hints at the album’s blunt — and at times sarcastic — tone.
The record features eight “chamber rock” songs, a collaboration between Folds and yMusic, a six-person classical ensemble from NYC.
The final three songs are movements from his 2013 “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra,” recorded with the Nashville Symphony and conducted by Giancarlo Guerrero.
The opening track, “Capable of Anything,” is not an inspiring ballad gushing with lyrics of positivity, but rather the sour taste of a failed relationship.
With countless instruments playing in the background, Folds belts, “But I stopped caring what you think about me. I gave up.”
Following this track is “Not a Fan,” a song expressing Folds’ jealousy over his girlfriend excluding him from things that she likes.
His passive aggressiveness is apparent in the lyric, “So go get your T-shirt signed, fangirl. I may or may not be here when you return.”
Halfway through the new songs, “Phone In a Pool” takes a slightly different approach, detailing Folds’ annoyance with his cell phone to the point that he tosses it into a pool in New Orleans.
He sings the question, “Can’t you people function for a little while? Without me bouncing off the satellite for a night?”
The final song before the classical movements is “I’m Not the Man,” a song culminating the attitude Folds displayed in the songs prior. He sings nostalgically about what he used to see himself as, saying, “So I’ve come to pay my respects at the wake. I’ve buried it all, and I’m dancing on my own grave.”
The movements possess similar elements to what you would hear at a Broadway show, and their placement on a mostly pop and rock album is jarring.
While Folds’ lyrics are intuitive and occasionally verge on cute, they don’t make up for the juxtaposed tracks.
Overall, the album isn’t a total disappointment, but Folds has certainly proven himself capable of more meaningful records and is only worth a download for invested fans.