Songs for Silverman

{{More citations needed|date=June 2011}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Songs for Silverman | type = studio | artist = [[Ben Folds]] | cover = SongsForSilverman.jpg | alt = | released = April 25, 2005<ref name=PopMatters/> | recorded = 2004 | studio = | genre = [[Alternative rock]] | length = 44:08 | label = * [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]] (UK) * [[Epic Records|Epic]] (US) | producer = [[Ben Folds]], [[John Mark Painter]] | prev_title = [[Super D]] | prev_year = 2004 | next_title = [[Songs for Goldfish]] | next_year = 2005 |misc = {{Singles |name = Songs for Silverman |type = studio |single1 = [[Landed (Ben Folds song)|Landed]] |single1date = 2005 }} }} {{Music ratings | MC = 69/100<ref name=meta>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/songs-for-silverman/ben-folds/critic-reviews |title=Critic Reviews for Songs For Silverman |website=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=April 5, 2013}}</ref> | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r735899}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]'' | rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=meta/> | rev3 = ''[[Drowned in Sound]]'' | rev3score = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Ridgway |first=Julian |url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/4039/reviews/12105-?search |title=Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman |website=[[Drowned in Sound]] |date=May 9, 2005 |accessdate=April 5, 2013 |archive-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021151202/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/4039/reviews/12105-?search |url-status=dead }}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | rev4score = B+<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Willman |first=Chris |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1060798,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116153803/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1060798,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2007 |title=Songs for Silverman Review |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=May 20, 2005 |accessdate=April 5, 2013}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev5score = 5.8/10<ref>[http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3139-songs-for-silverman/ Pitchfork Media review]</ref> | rev6 = [[Playlouder]] | rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Allen |first=Jeremy |url=http://www.playlouder.com/review/+songsforsilverma-0/ |title=Songs For Silverman |publisher=[[Playlouder]] |date=April 28, 2005 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050428211310/http://www.playlouder.com/review/+songsforsilverma-0/ |archive-date=April 28, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[PopMatters]]'' | rev7score = 4/10<ref name=PopMatters>{{cite magazine|last=Schiller |first=Mike |url=https://www.popmatters.com/foldsben-songs2005-2495899607.html |title=Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman |magazine=[[PopMatters]] |date=May 13, 2005 |accessdate=April 5, 2013}}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Hiatt |first=Brian |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/benfolds/albums/album/7273277/review/7277624/songs_for_silverman |title=Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman : Music Reviews |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 5, 2005 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026050525/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/benfolds/albums/album/7273277/review/7277624/songs_for_silverman |archive-date=October 26, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev9 = ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' | rev9score = C+<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Passantino |first=Dom |url=http://stylusmagazine.com/reviews/ben-folds/songs-for-silverman.htm |title=Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman - Review |magazine=[[Stylus Magazine]] |date=May 24, 2005 |accessdate=April 5, 2013}}</ref> | rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' | rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=meta/> }}

'''''Songs for Silverman''''' is the second studio [[album]] by [[Ben Folds]], released in April 2005 by [[Epic Records]]. The album reached No. 13 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], making it Folds' highest-charting album until the release of ''[[Way to Normal]]'' in 2008.

The album is named after Ben Goldman, Folds' former [[A&R]] representative at [[Sony BMG]]. Folds explained, "I was always sending songs to him for the album, so I wanted to name it after him. But somebody (from Sony) found out and flipped out, so I changed it a bit and turned it in."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3298162,00.html|title=Ben Folds sets his Jewish record straight|newspaper=Ynetnews|date=31 August 2006|last1=Breskin|first1=Nicole}}</ref> Goldman's name also spawned the title of Folds' compilation album ''[[Songs for Goldfish]]''.

==Singles== The first single, "[[Landed (Ben Folds song)|Landed]]", reached No. 77 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and No. 40 on the [[Adult Top 40]]. A planned [[United Kingdom]] issue was cancelled, though the single received a digital-only release.

The single "Jesusland" reached No. 2 on the UK airplay chart in October 2005. It has also been playlisted by [[Xfm London]] and [[BBC Radio 2]] (which lists it as "download only"). The track was slated for a UK single release in September 2005, but it never made it to store shelves. The video for the single features [[Matt Lucas (comedian)|Matt Lucas]] as a [[televangelist]] interspersed with scenes of a journey through what may well be "Jesusland" itself. The track was featured in the 2008 documentary ''[[Religulous]]''.

The album's next UK single, "Late", was written as a tribute to the recently deceased singer-songwriter [[Elliott Smith]].

==Other songs== The song "Gracie" is written about Folds' daughter. He had previously written one about his son Louis on ''[[Rockin' the Suburbs]]'', called "[[Still Fighting It]]," and he often performs the two songs together during live shows.

[["Weird Al" Yankovic]], who directed Folds' video for "[[Rockin' the Suburbs (song)|Rockin' the Suburbs]]," contributes backing vocals to "Time".

==Track listing== All songs written by [[Ben Folds]], except where noted. {{Track listing | title1 = Bastard | length1 = 5:23 | title2 = You to Thank | length2 = 3:36 | title3 = [[Jesusland (song)|Jesusland]] | length3 = 4:30 | title4 = [[Landed (Ben Folds song)|Landed]] | length4 = 4:28 | title5 = Gracie | length5 = 2:40 | title6 = Trusted | length6 = 4:08 | title7 = Give Judy My Notice | length7 = 3:37 | title8 = Late | length8 = 3:58 | title9 = Sentimental Guy | length9 = 3:03 | title10 = Time | length10 = 4:30 | title11 = Prison Food | length11 = 4:15 }}

'''Japan-only bonus track''' #<li value="12">"Side of the Road" – 2:58

'''DVD-only bonus track''' #<li value="12">"Landed" (Strings Version) – 4:46

===DVD listing=== *The Making of ''Songs for Silverman'' *Live performances *Interviews *Behind-the-scenes footage

The DualDisc additionally contains the entire album in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

==Personnel== '''The Band''' *Ben Folds – piano, vocals *Jared Reynolds – bass, vocals *Lindsay Jamieson – drums, vocals

'''Additional musicians''' *[[Bucky Baxter]] – pedal steel (7, 11), 12-string guitar (7) *Frally Folds – backing vocals (7) *David Henry – cello (3, 5) *Ned Henry – violin (3) *John Mark Painter – double bass (5, 9), French horn (9) *[[Al Yankovic]] – backing vocals (10)

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Chart performance for ''Songs for Silverman'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2005) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|9|artist=Ben Folds|album=Songs for Silverman|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2023}} |- {{album chart|Germany|84|id=18172|artist=Ben Folds|album=Songs for Silverman|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2023}} |- {{album chart|Ireland2|68|artist=Ben Folds|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2023}} |- {{album chart|UK2|65|date=20050501|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2023}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|13|artist=Ben Folds|rowheader=true|access-date=February 12, 2023}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Songs For Silverman}} [[Category:2005 albums]] [[Category:Ben Folds albums]] [[Category:Epic Records albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by John Mark Painter]] [[Category:Albums produced by Ben Folds]]