Pitchfork

[Posted Thursday, September 25th, 2003 04:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

So we might be a bit slow on the uptake for this one, but we think you'll find it's surprisingly relevant. Everyone's favorite piano playin' maniac, Ben Folds, has been busy in the studio. Eschewing, for the moment, the traditional LP form we all know and love, Ben is in the midst of releasing three EP's of all new material before getting back to basics with a new album in 2004. The first five-song EP, Speed Graphic, featuring a cover of The Cure's "Inbetween Days," was released this summer, and is available via Apple's iTunes music store. In fact, during the week of August 9th, the recently introduced Billboard/Soundscan "Hot Digital Tracks" chart had Speed Graphic's components occupying five of its six top spots. Take that, Beyonce (really)! The EP's can also be purchased as a Sony Music Digital Download, or as an actual CD (remember those?) from Folds' own label, Attacked By Plastic.

Folds' official website reports that the second EP, Sunny 16, will be ready to ship come September 30th. Folds himself made with some thoughts on the site: "Part of me thinks I'm an idiot for 'wasting' this recording on a limited release EP, but I'm really into this method of recording and releasing quickly and making it all about music, so here it is... I'm feeling like it's one of my best records. And I'm just warming up because I'm headed back into the studio to make another EP, Super D, for release in November." Folds also imparted some details regarding the upcoming full-length, to be released early next year: "It will feature possibly re-recorded versions of three of the songs on these limited edition EP's, and the rest of the material will be new." The tracklist for Sunny 16:

01 There's Always Someone Cooler Than You
02 Learn to Live With What You Are
03 All You Can Eat
04 Rockstar
05 Songs of Love [Divine Comedy]

Folds will also be exercising his liberal guilt with those most well known of do-gooders, the Indigo Girls, at the sixth Honor the Earth benefit concert on October 10th. The Dixie Chicks will also be present, no doubt completely pulling for Bush's continued effort to spend all of our hard-earned tax dollars on social, health, and educational programs... for Iraq. The concert will be held at the Earth-friendly Verizon Wireless Ampitheater in Charlotte, NC, and in case you're thinking this kind of seems like an unholy union, keep in mind that all net proceeds will go to the Honor The Earth foundation and the tearful Indian who serves as its Honor-ary treasurer. Folds is also heading out on the college circuit in November, with a few dates to support the new EP:

11-01 Washington, D.C. - George Washington University
11-02 Oswego, NY - SUNY Oswego
11-07 Kirksville, MO - Truman State University

Finally, following in the noble footsteps of Queen, The Who, and Prince, the songs of Ben Folds Five have been adapted to the musical theater. The production, entitled Steven's Last Night in Town, ran during the month of August at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to mixed reviews. Featuring older Folds tunes such as "Boxing" and "Song for the Dumped" as well as the titular "Last Night," the production is, according to the official Festival website, "A musical comedy cataloguing one man's life as a complete failure." Sounds like a lark.