Continuing a countdown of my favorite albums of 2005…

#4 – Songs for Silverman – Ben Folds

Ben Folds’ second solo album dropped the tongue-in-cheek, juvenile elements of his previous work in favor of a more mature, thoughtful song cycle. Some fans were disappointed in the direction, but I was delighted.

Don’t get me wrong… I love many of Folds’ silly songs. But I also love to see artists evolve and explore new territory, especially when they are as talented musically and lyrically as Ben Folds.

Songs for Silverman doesn’t have a weak moment, but more important, it has at least five truly sublime ones. Three of those come in order. First, the elegant ‘Jesusland,’ a somber screed against religious hypocrisy. Then the album’s single, ‘Landed,’ about a man finally freed from an oppressive relationship. And closing out the trio is ‘Gracie,’ a lovely ballad written for Folds’ daughter.

The album also features the sublime break-up song ‘Give Judy My Notice,’ which was previously released as a piano-only track but here gets a subtle country makeover, and the beautifully sad ‘Late,’ a tribute to Elliott Smith. That’s the second Elliott Smith remembrance to show up on one of my top 2005 albums.

While my favorite Folds output remains his first two albums with Ben Folds Five, Songs for Silverman likely holds the title among his solo work (it’s neck-and-neck with Lonely Avenue). It’s a perfect encapsulation of his prodigious musical skills and his “regular guy poet” sensibility.