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Ben Folds Five Reopens The "Underground" Vault After Three Decades

  • Writer: Charles Luberisse
    Charles Luberisse
  • 60 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

Written By: Big C

Ben Folds Five returns to the beginning with a 30th Anniversary edition of its landmark self-titled debut. This time pairing a newly remastered classic with a discovery fans never expected to hear. Produced originally by the late Caleb Southern, the 1995 debut stood apart by replacing guitar-driven alternative rock with piano, intricate arrangements, and fearless songwriting that still feels refreshingly unconventional today. The collection reveals the creative decisions which ultimately forged one of alternative rock's most distinctive records. The band's long-lost Shelved First Attempt emerges from the archives, led by the newly released Underground (Shelved First Attempt). It's a rare opportunity to hear a legendary band finding its identity in real time, with Ben Folds saying:

Overall, it's good! ... It's emphatically unique. It's from an era when you could still identify a band by the instrumentalists, before you'd even hear the vocalist.

Hearing these early recordings beside the finished album highlights just how important instinct can be in the recording process. Sometimes the version left behind teaches as much as the one that changed music history. Arriving September 4 through Capitol/UMe, the anniversary release expands far beyond a traditional remaster. Alongside alternate versions of familiar songs, listeners will finally hear Evaporated in its earliest form, plus previously shelved recordings including Emaline, Dick Holster, and Eddie Walker. The original trio, Ben Folds, Robert Sledge, and Darren Jessee, will also reunite for their first performances together in more than 13 years, adding another milestone to a celebration already packed with surprises. Stream here and be sure to follow Ben Folds on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and YOUTUBE.


 
 
 

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