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Songs for Silverman
Studio album by Ben Folds
Released	April 25, 2005
Recorded	2004
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	44:08
Label	Sony (UK) Epic (US)
Producer	Ben Folds, John Mark Painter
Ben Folds chronology
Super D (2004) Songs for Silverman (2005) Songs for Goldfish (2005)
Singles from Songs for Silverman
"Landed" Released: 2005

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	69/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Alternative Press
Drowned in Sound	8/10
Entertainment Weekly	B+
Pitchfork	5.8/10
Playlouder
PopMatters	4/10
Rolling Stone
Stylus Magazine	C+
Uncut

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, 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." Goldman's name also spawned the title of Folds' compilation album Songs for Goldfish.

Singles

The first single, "Landed", reached No. 77 on the 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 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," contributes backing vocals to "Time".

Track listing

All songs written by Ben Folds, except where noted.

LP-only bonus track

12. "Bitches Ain't Shit" (Delmar Arnaud, Calvin Broadus, Jr., Ricardo Brown, Tracy Curry, Colin Wolfe, Andre Young) – 3:54

Japan-only bonus track

12. "Side of the Road" – 2:58

DVD-only bonus track

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

References

1. ^ Schiller, Mike (May 13, 2005). "Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman". PopMatters. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
2. ^ "Critic Reviews for Songs For Silverman". Metacritic. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
3. Songs for Silverman at AllMusic
4. Ridgway, Julian (May 9, 2005). "Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
5. Willman, Chris (May 20, 2005). "Songs for Silverman Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 16, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
6. Pitchfork Media review
7. Allen, Jeremy (April 28, 2005). "Songs For Silverman". Playlouder. Archived from the original on April 28, 2005. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
8. Hiatt, Brian (May 5, 2005). "Ben Folds: Songs for Silverman : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
9. Passantino, Dom (May 24, 2005). "Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
10. Breskin, Nicole (31 August 2006). "Ben Folds sets his Jewish record straight". Ynetnews.
11. "Australiancharts.com – Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ben Folds – Songs for Silverman" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
13. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ben Folds". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
15. "Ben Folds Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2023.

• 2005 albums
• Ben Folds albums
• Epic Records albums
• Albums produced by John Mark Painter
• Albums produced by Ben Folds