Ben Folds Five Does It Anyway

May 5, 2012 • Commentary • by

Quick note: I suffer terrible, non-objective bias in favor of most anything Ben Folds does as a musician and a person. He’s not always right, but the songs he wrote got me through a lot. It’s only appropriate I disclose my leanings.

In preparation for the Ben Folds Five reunion tour, the power trio led by Ben Folds is releasing their first new album since 1999. To promote the work, the band has turned to Internet fueled word of mouth and online distribution. On Friday, May 4, Ben Folds posted a track from the an unmastered track from the upcoming album on his Facebook page. The track, titled “Do It Anyway” takes listeners back to the piano pounding energy of authentic Ben Folds Five, comprised of Folds, Robert Sledge, and Darren Jessee.

When it comes to independent distribution, Folds says:

Our intention is not to ‘stick it to the man’. He’s quite stuck enough. We don’t care to create a new model. We’re just doing it the way it feels best this time around and quite honestly, making it up as we go along… We’re chewing over plans. In any event, we’ll go ahead and put the album on pre-sale soon ourselves and tweet like the wind.
 

In addition to distribution online, Folds has turned to long plane rides to compose “blogs” offering advice and anecdote to his fans. Topics include the new Ben Folds Five album, advice to aspiring musicians, and thoughts on lucky breaks in musician’s careers.

Thanks to MatthewGaydos for the Soundcloud link.
Direct download link.

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