Songs for Silverman

Infobox Album |
Name = Songs for Silverman
Type = Studio album
Artist = Ben Folds


Released = April 11 2005 (Australia)
April 13 2005 (Japan)
April 25 2005 (U.K.)
April 26 2005 (U.S.)
Recorded = 2004
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 44:08
Label = Sony (UK)
5170122 (CD)
5170123 (CD/DVD)
Epic (US)
E 87104 (LP)
EK 87104 (CD/DVD)
EN 94191 (DualDisc)
Producer = Richard J. Alcock, Piero Giramonti, Calvin Aurand, Ben Folds
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fw5e8qpxbt94 link]
*Pitchfork (5.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17800/Ben_Folds_Songs_for_Silverman 04/27/05]
*PopMatters (4/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/f/foldsben-songs2005.shtml 05/13/05]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/_/id/7273277/benfolds?pageid=rs.Artistcage&pageregion=triple1 05/05/05]
Last album = "Super D"
(2004)
This album = "Songs for Silverman"
(2005)
Next album = "Songs for Goldfish"
(2005)

"Songs for Silverman" is an album by Ben Folds, first released on April 26, 2005, by Epic Records in the United States. The album reached #13 on the Billboard 200, making it Folds' highest-charting album until the release of "Way to Normal" in September 2008.

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 found out and flipped out, so I changed it a bit and turned it in." [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3298162,00.html]

ingles

The first single, "Landed," reached #77 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #40 on the Adult Top 40. The planned UK issue was cancelled, though the single was treated to a digital-only release.

The single "Jesusland" reached #42 on the UK airplay chart on 2 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 on 12 September 2005, but it was mysteriously deleted and never made it to store shelves. For fans of the UK series "Little Britain", the video for this single features Matt Lucas as a televangelist interspersed with scenes of a journey through what may well be "Jesusland" itself.

The next single in the UK, "Late," which was written as a tribute to the then recently deceased singer/songwriter Elliott Smith, was playlisted by XFM.

The song "Gracie", track five on the album, is written about Folds' daughter of the same name. His son Louis had a song written for him on Rockin' the Suburbs, Folds' 2001 studio release, called "Still Fighting It".

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

Track listing

All songs composed by Ben Folds.
#"Bastard" – 5:23
#"You to Thank" – 3:36
#"Jesusland" – 4:30
#"Landed" – 4:28
#"Gracie" – 2:40
#"Trusted" – 4:08
#"Give Judy My Notice" – 3:37
#"Late" – 3:58
#"Sentimental Guy" – 3:03
#"Time" – 4:30
#"Prison Food" – 4:15
#"Bitches Ain't Shit" (LP only bonus track) – 3:54 "Side of the Road" (Japan only bonus track) – 2:58

DVD listing

#"The Making of Songs for Silverman"
#"Live Performances"
#"Interviews"
#"Behind the Scene Footage"