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List Price: $7.99 | | Label: Sony
Salesrank: 5354
Released: April 27, 1999 |
| Our Price: $5.48 |
| Used Price: $1.00 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner Track Listing:
1. Narcolepsy
2. Don't Change Your Plans
3. Mess
4. Magic
5. Hospital Song
6. Army
7. Your Redneck Past
8. Your Most Valuable Possession
9. Regrets
10. Jane
11. Lullabye
Editorial Review:
Simultaneously challenging and accessible, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner is a song cycle about death and dying, people, relationships, optimism, innocence--you name it. On his first two albums, Ben Folds was quick to toss off bombs of blame (most notably on the vitriolic "Song for the Dumped"), but here he aims most of his criticism at the mirror. On the wondrously snarky "Redneck Past" he sings, "My ex-wives all despise me / try to put it all behind me / but my redneck past is nipping at my heels." Apparently he doesn't have a chip on his piano any more. The production is lush and ornate, with strings and horns embellishing Folds's usual quota of to-die-for hooks (which he seems to dash off as effortlessly as postcards from the beach). An obvious point of reference is Pet Sounds, but Ben Folds Five widen their scope to also include hints of Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, and even Queen, whose influence is front and center on the bombastic opener "Narcolepsy," a virtual homage to "Bohemian Rhapsody." Other highlights include "Army," a hilariously detailed indie-rock answer to Billy Joel's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant." --David Menconi
The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner Reviews:
classic 
2009-07-09 - This album by Ben Folds does not quite transend its many influences--I hear Who, Elton John, Burt Bacharach, Randy Newman-but it uses them so well, the album is a masterpiece.
It is the writting. Listen to the 70s bombast of the opening track, or the Bacharach trumpet break on "Don't Change Your Plans," or the bossa kick of "Mess." Folds is not an innovator, but he knows good music when he hears it, and absorbs influences the way great musicians do.
His production skills are also excellent. He is old school: he understands how to take all kinds of styles, and run a sound through them to make a cohearant album. An album that functions as one piece of art, as in the glory days of FM radio.
If you soak in the album and all its tracks, you'll see how much Folds thinks like a panio player as opposed to a guitarist. On a panio, it is easier to experiment with more chord inversions and voicings. Unauthorized Biography makes this self-evident in every number. The songs are chord based, and the changes are complex; suprises are at every turn, and Folds never resorts to cleches.
Fantastic album.
It is Ok 
2008-10-09 - The only songs that I think are good are Army, Your Redneck Past, and Jane. The other songs are not bad, but just kind of there. They have no bite.
Not much to say other than "Fantastic"!
2008-08-06 - Some incredible analyses have already been given about this wonderful album, so I don't have anything important to add. I just wanted to make sure the album got another 5 star rating as it is most surely justified. Fairly closely contested, but still, my favorite Ben Folds related album ever.
Ben Folds really went out on a number
2007-10-16 - It's such a shame that Ben Folds Five folded so damn early, (or with so less material), but at least they left three well craftedm damn near perfect albums. If you really liked the way they incorporated orchestra in their previous albums, then this one will really make you happy.
It's not as great as their first two albums, but it's not because this album lacked songs in the vein of Underground, Jackson Cannery, Kate, Song For The Dumped, Uncle Walter, and Juliane. It all will take a wee bit more to get used to, but it's rewarding. Army however will have no problem growing on you. I liked it right off the bat. Your Redneck Past is also another sing-along jem, even though the rythem is totally weird at times. They still show some classic Ben Folds Five piano solos, but the music as a whole is remarkably polished and cleaned up. Also, Narcolepsy sucks @$$.
Ben Folds's piano playing is a little less jazzy and upbeat, but the real treat is the orchestra that backs the band. There's a lot of brass instruments and strings that back up the band. It's very effective, and brilliantly used. This album shows great use of orchestra that puts Automatic For The People to shame. But that's not a hard task. There's a couple of song-but not really a song (______), Hospital Song and your Most Personal Possession. Hospital song is great, but Your Most Personal Possession dosen't do that much for me. It's enjoyable though, but every song on here flows together anyway. Some albums are just better that way.
Lyrics and voice are some of the tightest Folds has ever done. Folds's voice is a lot less higher than it was back in 1995, but maybe it's beacuse the music dosen't make him sing high. The lyrics on here are the most mature you can get, no more songs about his P#n!$ (seriously, Philosphy was mentioned by Folds to be about that) or some smart @$$ uncle who talks bull_____. Thankfully, the things he talks about never feel like it's just some whiny teenager a la Jonathon Davis/Corey Tailor/Fallout Boy. Stuff that's more mature, and people that aren't afraid to be a little expressive about negative emotions. Real negative emotions, not crying tweens.
If you already own the 2 other Ben Folds Five albums, then chances are, with a little unexpectancy, you will enjoy this album. This isn't the first album you should get, try the other two. Even if Army is catchy as _______. Why these guys even broke up just seems like a mystery.
9.5/10
Ben Folds Five - A Slight Step Down But Still Good 
2007-03-22 - Ben Folds Five delivers again with another collection of outstanding piano based songs. I have seen different interpretations of the "concept" behind this album and I am still not sure that I see exactly what it is supposed to be. Is the main character Ben himself or just someone made up in his mind? The songs are mostly introspective and deal with regret, loss and life choices. Although there are a few upbeat moments most of this album explores self examination through review of ones actions. Overall I don't think that this album is nearly as strong as "Whatever Amen", but it has its moments. "Narcolepsy", "Don't Change Your Plans", "Mess", "Army", "Your Redneck Past" are all very good and resonate with what is best about this band. Tight concise piano fronted music and intelligent lyrics. "Mesner" would end up being the last album from the original Ben Folds Five band. The members would go their separate ways after this one with Folds going solo.
