{"product_id":"ben-folds-five-whatever-ever-amen","title":"WHATEVER \u0026 EVER AMEN","description":"Ben Folds Five: Ben Folds (vocals, piano); Robert Sledge (vocals, bass); Darren Jessee (vocals, drums).\nAdditional personnel: Alicia Svigals (violin); John Catchings (cello); Matt Darriau (clarinet); Frand London (trumpet); Caleb Southern (Hammond organ).\nBoldly hacking his way through the muck-infested swamplands of post-Nirvana alternative rock, Ben Folds comes to save the day with an album of pure pop delights that provide a welcome alternative to \"alternative.\" Despite the name, the Ben Folds Five is a trio consisting of Folds on piano and vocals, a bassist and a drummer. There are echoes of everything from vintage Todd Rundgren and Joe Jackson to Hoboken-based popsters like the dB's and Freedy Johnston in the band's frothy compositions. And there are no guitars.\nBassist Robert Sledge is on a one-man mission to bring back the fuzz-bass, utilizing the '60s bass technique to fill out the sound of the trio, and sometimes sounding more like a guitarist or keyboardist. Folds is an accomplished pianist, and has no qualms about giving the instrument the rock and roll spotlight that it's often denied. Ignore the knee-jerk Elton John comparisons. Folds may be equally influenced by show tunes and the Beatles, but WHATEVER rocks more convincingly than a gaggle of guitar-worshipping grunge puppies.","brand":"Ben Folds Five","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44589638385897,"sku":"YO8I65-KTJM-00","price":33.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/3523\/8633\/files\/ben-folds-five-whatever-ever-amen_RUkSf_d67060ab-bdc7-4631-9103-759e906bc803.jpg?v=1759390037","url":"https:\/\/www.vibinvinyl.com\/products\/ben-folds-five-whatever-ever-amen","provider":"Vibin' Vinyl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}