Ben Folds Five

Ben Folds Five (1994–2000) was a three member band formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They played what might be called piano-dominated pop/rock. Much of their work was influenced by jazz, evident in frequent improv-styled passages through bridge and/or ending. Members of the band were: Ben Folds, the lead singer and keyboardist, who also wrote most of the songs; Robert Sledge on bass and Darren Jessee on drums. The group enjoyed the success of the single "Brick" in 1998, a ballad written by Folds about his high school girlfriend getting an abortion. This song has to a large degree misrepresented the band to fans who aren't familiar with their other work; "Brick" is a serious ballad, whereas most of their music is characterised by jazz inflections and witty, humorous lyrics. After the band's amicable breakup, Folds began a solo career. Robert Sledge's subsequent band International Orange has broken up, while Darren Jessee is the frontman for the band Hotel Lights.

Discography

Albums

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• Ben Folds Five (1995) - Passenger/Caroline Records
• Whatever and Ever Amen (1997) - 550
• Naked Baby Photos (1998) - Passenger/Caroline
• The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner (1999) - 550
• Whatever and Ever Amen (Digitally Remastered) (2005)

Singles

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• Underground (1996) #37 UK
• Battle Of Who Could Care Less (1997) #26 UK
• Kate (1997) #39 UK
• Brick (1998) #26 UK; #11 on US adult contemporary charts
• Army (1999) #28 UK

DVDs

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• Live at Sessions at West 54th (1999) - Epic Music Video