The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner Ben Folds Five

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CD

  • Release Date: 04/27/1999
  • Sales Rank: 10,628
  • Label: SONY
  • UPC: 074646980828

Listener Rating: (5 ratings)

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  • Overview
  • Tracks
  • Editorial Reviews
  • Customer Reviews
  • Details & Credits
Track List
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The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner

1LISTENNarcolepsy 5:24
2LISTENDon't Change Your Plans 5:10
3LISTENMess 4:02
4LISTENMagic 4:02
5LISTENHospital Song 2:04
6LISTENArmy 3:23
7LISTENYour Redneck Past 3:42
8LISTENYour Most Valuable Possession 1:56
9LISTENRegrets 4:09
10LISTENJane 2:44
11LISTENLullabye 3:53

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

The follow-up to the popular Whatever and Ever Amen, Ben Folds Five's third LP, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Mesner, continues the eclectic and clever songwriting that has become the group's trademark. Like other piano-based rock composers such as Randy Newman and Todd Rundgren, principal songwriter and de facto leader Ben Folds combines an off-beat world view with equally off-kilter musical arrangements to create a thoroughly original sound. The pseudo-lounge break in "Regrets," for example, or the downright silliness of "Your Redneck Past" set the Ben Folds Five apart from the hundreds of soundalike bands that the group competes with for radio space. What makes Ben Folds Five, and The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Mesner, relevant is their willingness to take musical risks, an anomaly in today's scene. On an album where there is a lack of instantly catchy hooks, Folds has the audacity to add a bizarre Burt Bacharach-ish horn section to "Don't Change Your Plans," one of the few radio-friendly tracks on the album. And in "Most Valuable Possession," the band uses studio trickery and an answering machine message left by Folds' father to create a bizarre spoken word pastiche. It is this willingness to forge a unique sound that makes The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Mesner such an interesting album to listen to. There is care to these songs and, what's even more significant and fresh, there is also intelligence. Steve Kurutz, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messnerby Anonymous

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May 30, 2001: This was the first BFF album I ever bought or even listened to and my only regret is that I wish I had have gotten into this band sooner before it was too late (and the most you can give is 5 stars). Although for the most part this isn't as upbeat and poppy as their other albums, which I also reccomend with 5 stars, it seems to be the most personal and heartfelt album by them, or any other band for that matter. Fav songs:MESS!!!, DCYP, Army, and Magic (written by Darren) THIS IS A MUST GET CD!!!!!

Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messnerby Anonymous

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May 10, 2001: This may not be my favorite BFF album, but it is definately the most touching. Each song is beautiful and reveals so much about Ben. Yet at the same time the themes he touches on are so universal. He deals with each song with clarity, inginuity(SP?), and fun.


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