Ben Folds has had himself quite a prolific career. The world first became familiar with his quirky brand of alternative piano-rock through his band with Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee, Ben Folds Five. After their three albums and a rarities compilation, Folds went on to add three more LPs and and an equal number of EPs to his catalog under his own name. Tack on his numerous collaborations with the likes of William Shatner, Regina Spektor, author Nick Hornby, Amanda Palmer, and more, plus his work on films, and it’s clear Folds’ cup over flows with material.

Now, after more than a decade apart, Ben Folds Five have reunited. The band’s first onstage performance together since a one-off event in 2008 goes down this weekend at Mountain Jam, with more festivals and tour dates to follow. What’s perhaps most exciting for fans, however, is the promise of a new album from the trio due out this year. Three new tracks from the band appeared on Folds’ The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective last year, but this currently untitled, crowdfunded record will be their first full one since 1999.

Whether by himself, with his friends, or with his newly reunited band, Folds’ repertoire keeps growing. Whatever the work, though, a hallmark of them all has been Folds’ lyrics. Witty, philosophical, melancholic, touching, or just straight oddball, Folds’ words have always made his songs instantly identifiable practically just by reading the lyrics sheet. But the real question is: Can you tell if it’s a Ben Folds Five song or Folds solo? Or was it a collaboration with some other artists? We’ve created a little lyrical retrospective to test your knowledge. We tell you the lyric, you tell us if it’s BFF, Folds and his bffs, or Folds himself. Click on, brave listener, and find out if you’re enough of a Folds fan:

Take the quiz.

Once you’ve tested yourself, click on to the next page for a full explanation of each question. Don’t go peeking, now, ya little cheater.

1. “Every couple nights or so / You know you pop into my dreams / I just can’t get rid of you / Like you got rid of me” Ben Folds Five – “Fair” – Whatever and Ever Amen

Though not one of the five singles off their sophomore album (how “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces” failed to chart, I’ll never understand), “Fair” is one of the strongest tracks on the the record. It’s got all of Folds’ wit and craftiness, romantic and depressing at the same time.

2. “The sun’s coming up / she’s pulled all the blankets over / curled in a ball / like she’s hiding from me and / that’s when I know / she’s gonna be pissed when she wakes up / for terrible things I did to her in her dreams” Ben Folds – “Trusted” – Songs for Silverman

Folds captures that moment when you realize the person you loved isn’t who you thought they were. This lyric connects with anyone who has ever had someone wake up  mad at them for no damned reason but spite.

3. “I went because you said you’d be there / A box of candy, smoke in your hair / I didn’t know, I didn’t care / Now I know” The Bens (Folds, Kweller, Lee) – “Bruised” – The Bens (EP)

What else do you call a band with three guys named Ben? Folds, Ben Kweller, and Ben Lee toured Australia together in 2003, and a four-track EP was the result. They also covered “Wicked Little Town” for the Hedwig and the Angry Inch tribute album Wig in a Box.

4. “I see that there is evil / And I know that there is good / And the in-betweens I never understood” Ben Folds Five – “Philosophy” – Ben Folds Five

In the Naked Baby Photos liner notes, Folds claims, “This song is about my penis. . . if that’s what you think it’s about.” Whether his philosophy is phallic in nature or not, this is one of Folds’ knottiest songs to date.

5. “‘No one understands me,’ you said / and I nodded once again / as if to agree that all men are indeed the same / somehow, you said, I was different” Fear of Pop (Ben Folds, John Mark Painter, Fleming McWilliams, lyrics sung by William Shatner) – “In Love” – Volume 1

Folds has called William Shatner his “show-biz dad”, having worked with him on numerous occasions. Here, Shatner plays the part of The Unrequited Lover to “sing” the lyrics with his trademark dramatic, halting delivery.

6. “I wanna borrow an allen wrench! / I wanna borrow some duct tape! / I wanna borrow a mic cable! / Bass in your face!” Ben Folds Five – “For Those of Ya’ll Who Wear Fannie Packs” – Naked Baby Photos

A b-side on the “Battle of Who Could Care Less” single, this largely improvised, um, song is probably the most ridiculous thing the band ever recorded. “Shit yeah it’s cool.”

7. “I like to shoot the shit and do some chilling, I guess / you fuck with me, and I kick your ass” Ben Folds/Nick Hornby – “Levi Johnston’s Blues” – Lonely Avenue

Yes, Folds has a song about Levi Johnston and his bastard child with Bristol Palin. To be fair, neither Folds nor Hornsby wrote these lyrics; they were pulled directly from Johnston’s Myspace page. Can’t make that stuff up.

8. “Lucretia walks into a room / because she does it’s not the same room / the one she wanted to be in / she says, ‘Everywhere I go, damn! There I am.’” Ben Folds – “Fired” – Rockin’ The Suburbs

Allow me to break protocol and address you myself: this is one of my all-time favorite Folds lyrics. Anyone who has ever felt insecure around their peers knows what Lucretia is experiencing here.

9. “Roots, the funny limbs that grow underground / That keep you from falling down / Don’t you think that you need them now?” Ben Folds Five – “Your Redneck Past” – The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner

Though the album failed to match the success of Whatever and Ever Amen, Reinhold Messner holds some of the juiciest BFF material. Here, Folds sarcastically addresses the idea of hiding from your past, which really defines you whether you like it or not.

10. “God made us number one because he loves us the best / Well he should go bless someone else for a while / Give us a rest” Ben Folds – “All U Can Eat” – Sunny 16 (EP)

Folds has often dropped religious references into his songs, often attaching them to American politics and society (see: “Jesusland”). He does so again here on the Sunny 16 EP.

11. “Sometimes it’s not subjective wrong and right / deep down you know it’s downright wrong / but you’re invincible tonight” Ben Folds Five – “Do It Anyway” – (forthcoming)

You had to be really on the ball to get this one. An unmastered version of this new cut was released just a few weeks ago.

12. “You could have just propped me up on the table like a mannequin / Or a cardboard standup and paint me / Any face that you wanted me to be seen with” Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor – “You Don’t Know Me” – Way to Normal

Okay, so this one was a bit of a trick question. Yes, it’s on a Ben Folds solo record, but it features his good friend Regina Spektor on backing vocals. Thus, it’s a bff recording.

13. “I stay focused on details / it keeps me from feeling the big things / But watch the microscope long enough / Things that seem still are still changing” Ben Folds – “Still” - Over The Hedge OST / Supersunnyspeedgraphic, the LP

Folds provided a few reworkings of old songs, covers, and a handful of originals for the under-appreciated Over The Hedge. “Still” was one of the new tracks. Sidenote: Shatner, who voiced the possum Ozzie in the film, provided a spoken word section to a new version of “Rockin’ the Suburbs” for this OST.

14. “There’s an ugly buzz that hovers just above the quiet / Found a way to make it silent” Ben Folds Five – “Air” – Godzilla OST/Whatever and Ever Amen, Remastered Edition

This track didn’t make the original Whatever and Ever Amen cut, but it found its way onto the soundtrack for the Matthew Broderick-starring Godzilla. What’s more ridiculous: that BFF was on the Godzilla OST, or that Broderick was in a Godzilla movie? You’re right; it’s probably that Godzilla asexually produced offspring in Madison Square Garden.

15. “Some things are more or less like that / Sad, funny, dumb, and brave like that / I don’t know why he had to die / I wonder who was saved” 8in8 (Folds, Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman, Damian Kulash [OK Go]) – “Twelve Line Song” (aka “The Squirrel Song”) – Nighty Night

At Boston’s Rethink Music conference in April 2011, Folds and some of his pals locked themselves in a room to create eight songs in eight hours. The whole thing was broadcast live, and all proceeds from the album’s download go to benefit Berklee City Music Network.

16. “The kids formed a circle just like Enter the Dragon / I was defending myself from snowballs coming at me / I said I’ll come back then and get you one on one” Ben Folds Five – “Tell Me What I Did” – The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective

This was one of the three new BFF tracks that appeared on Folds’ 2011 retrospective. With the new album in the works, this thankfully won’t be the last new material we get from the trio. The future looks bright, indeed.

Music for Occupy has revealed more details regarding their Occupy Wall Street benefit album. Available May 15th (14 days after the official day of worldwide “re-occupation”) on Razor & Tie, Occupy This Album features both previously released and new tracks from the likes of Yoko Ono, Ani DiFranco, Thievery Corporation, Mowai, Tom Morello, Ya La Tengo, Debbie Harry, Willie Nelson, David Crosby & Graham Nash, Amanda Palmer, Thee Oh Sees, New Party Systems (members of TV on the Radio, Liturgy, the Notekillers), and even documentarian Michael Moore c0vering Bob Dylan.

A four-CD physical release will collect 78 songs, while those who opt for the digital version will get 99 plus one “hidden” track. Proceeds from both versions will support the Occupy Wall Street movement. In a press release, the record’s Executive Producer, Music for Occupy’s Jason Samel, stated, “This album is the voice of the 100 percent. It is unified and all-encompassing just as we would like our world to become.”

Below, check out a five song sampler featuring brand new tracks from Mogwai, DiFranco, Our Lady Peace, Matt Pless, and Jay Samel.

[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/playlists/1879554" height="200" iframe="true" /]

On May 8th, a release party featuring artists from the compilation will be held at New York’s the City Winery. Tickets include a copy of Occupy This Album, plus a special bottle of “Occupy This Wine” Cabernet Sauvignon. Those tickets are available at the City Winery website, while pre-orders for the album are going on now via Amazon.

Occupy This Album Tracklist:
Disc 1:
01. Matt Pless – “Something’s Got to Give” *
02. Jackson Browne – “Come On, Come On, Come On – *
03. George Martinez & The Global Block Collective – “Occupation Freedom” *
04. Patti Smith – “People Have the Power” [Live in Marseille]
05. My Pet Dragon – “Love Anthem (Only Love)”
06. Loudon Wainwright III – “The Panic Is On”
07. Cosmonaut – “Occulture” *
08. papercranes – “Save Us (feat. Rain Phoenix) *
09. Jay Samel – “Smile (Get Up and Sing)” *
10. Tenderflex – “This Is What America Looks Like” (feat. Dynasty Electric, Ayler Young, Jay Rodriguez) *
11. Aeroplane Pageant – “Big Little Wolfs”
12. Alex Emanuel – “Agent 99″ *
13. Deborah Harry – “Safety in Numbers” *
14. Richard Barone – “Hey, Can I Sleep On Your Futon?” *
15. Black Dragon – “Occupy Wall Street ‘Here Here Here’” *
16. Ladytron – “White Gold”
17. Gabriel Aldort – “Greed” *
18. Taj Weekes & Adowa – “Against the Machine” *
19. Lloyd Cole – “The Young Idealists”
20. Willie Nelson – “A Peaceful Solution”

Disc 2:
21. Michael Moore – “The Times They Are A-Changin’” *
22. Ace Reporter – “The World Is on Fire”
23. The Middle Eight – “Latter Days”
24. Chroma – “Turn The Lights On”
25. Ani DiFranco – “Which Side Are You On?” *
26. Tao Rodriguez-Seeger – “Well May The World Go”
27. Thievery Corporation – “Unified Tribes” *
28. Thee Oh Sees – “Robber Barons”
29. Mike Rimbaud – “Saving Up to Go Bankrupt”
30. Nanci Griffith – “Hell No (I’m Not Alright)” *
31. Joseph Arthur – “We Stand as One” *
32. Girls Against Boys – “Cash Machine”
33. Junkyard Empire – “Rebellion Politik”
34. Anti-Flag – “Nothing Recedes Like Progress”
35. Fear Nuttin Band – “Rebel”
36. Jill Sobule with John Doe – “Under the Bridge”
37. Stephan Said – “Take a Stand”
38. UNKLE – “The Answer”
39. Tom Morello (The Nightwatchman) – “World Wide Rebel Songs”
40. Third Eye Blind – “If There Ever Was a Time” *

Disc 3:
41. Yoko Ono – “Move on Fast”
42. Build the Sun – “If We Live” *
43. Our Lady Peace – “Fight the Good Fight” *
44. Julie B Bonnie – “I Don’t Need Money” *
45. Toots & the Maytals – “The World Is Turning”
46. Nickodemus [ft. The Real Live Show, Sadat X, ILLspokinN and Rabbi Darkside] – “A New York Minute”
47. Gentleman Brawlers – “I Ain’t No Brian Wilson” *
48. The Mammals [ft. Pete Seeger] – “Industrial Park”
49. Yo La Tengo & the Lost City Rumblers – “Big Fish” *
50. Harry Hayward – “Occu-Pie” *
51. Mystic Bowie – “Free” *
52. Los Cintron – “Oye Mi Voz” *
53. Carolyn Wonderland – “Walk On”
54. Garland Jefferys – “Coney Island Winter”
55. Joel Rafael – “China Basin Digs”
56. The Pimps of Joytime (feat. Roy Ayers) – “Walkin’”
57. Warren Haynes Band – “River’s Gonna Rise” *
58. Immortal Technique – “Rich Man’s World”
59. Danger Field – “Staying Out and Calling In” *

Disc 4:
60. James McMurtry with Joan Baez & Steve Earle – “We Can’t Make It Here” *
61. New Party Systems (feat. Kyp Malone) – “We Are” *
62. The Nova Echo – “Revolution” *
63. Born I Music – “Number One”
64. Dar Williams – “Play The Greed”
65. Ronny Elliott – “Broke Heart Blues” *
66. David Crosby & Graham Nash – “What Are Their Names” (Live) *
67. Dylan Chambers with Lester Chambers – “Make a Stand” *
68. Jenny Arnau – “Better Luck Next Time” *
69. Arlo Guthrie & Family – “All Over The World” *
70. Lauren Diamond (feat. Liz O’Donnell) – “We’re the 99″ *
71. Mike + Ruthy – “We Are Human” *
72. Lucinda Williams – “Blessed”
73. Kanaska Carter – “Freedom of Speech” *
74. Rejectionist Front – “Reclaim”
75. Jasiri X – “Occupy (We the 99)”
76. Mogwai – “Earth Division” *
77. Occupy Wall Street Drummers and Paul Spitz – “Pulse” *
78. Hidden Bonus Track *

Digital Only:
79. Andrew Vladeck – “Chasing the Sun”
80. Greg Smith and The  Broken English – “Livin’ Like a Joker”
81. Aliza Hava – “Rise”
82. The Occubility Bros. – “Crashed IT, Stashed IT” *
83. Chris Pierce – “Invisible People”
84. Amanda Palmer – “Ukulele Anthem” *
85. Nadirah Shakoor – “Tree of Life”
86. Hanne Hukkelberg – “On My Wall”
87. Jason White – “Little Pieces of Plastic”
88. mfmadness – “Never Be Defeated”
89. Renegade Creation – “Greedy Life” *
90. Jesse Lenat – “99%”
91. The Swedes – “On The Dole”
92. Bill Mlotok – “Brazilia” *
93. Marcus Blake – “Don’t Taser Me, Bro!”
94. Angels of Vice – “We Are The 99″
95. The Layaways – “Silence”
96. Mother Feather – “Mother Feather” *
97. Thorin Caristo – “Common Man” *
98. Machan – “Everyday”
99. Vannucci (feat. Robert Brentley) – “Crashing Down” *
100. David Amram – “Time to Occupy” *

* Previously unreleased

The Internet has found itself a new ally in its ongoing fight against SOPA and PIPA. As Billboard reports, Trent Reznor, MGMT, The Lonely Island, Nada Surf’s Daniel Lorca, and OK Go have all co-signed an open letter to Congress expressing their opposition to the legislation. The letter was also signed by comedian Aziz Ansari, fillmaker Lloyd Kaufman, MythBusters‘ Adam Savage, and other members of the entertainment industry.

“We fear that the broad new enforcement powers provided under SOPA and PIPA could be easily abused against legitimate services like those upon which we depend. These bills would allow entire websites to be blocked without due process, causing collateral damage to the legitimate users of the same services – artists and creators like us who would be censored as a result,” the letter reads.

“We are deeply concerned that PIPA and SOPA’s impact on piracy will be negligible compared to the potential damage that would be caused to legitimate Internet services. Online piracy is harmful and it needs to be addressed, but not at the expense of censoring creativity, stifling innovation or preventing the creation of new, lawful digital distribution methods.” You can read the letter in its entirety below.

As Billboard also reports, a number of musicians have also voiced their opposition to the legislation via their personal websites and social media platforms. Peter Gabriel blacked out his website for the entire day on Wednesday, while Radiohead posted an Anti-PIPA bar across the top of their website. Others including The Roots’ ?uestlove, A-Trak, and Theophilus London have voiced their opposition on Twitter.

In wake of these protests, a number of lawmakers have withdrawn their support of SOPA and PIPA, according to The Washington Post. Representative Darrell Issa has also formally introduced an alternative piece of legislation titled OPEN, which would call on the International Trade Commission (ITC) to handle overseas “rogue” Web sites rather than the Justice Department, reports PCMag.com.

“OPEN is a targeted, effective solution to the problem of foreign, rogue Web sites stealing from American artists and innovators,” Issa said in a statement. “Today’s Internet blackout has underscored the flawed approach taken by SOPA and PIPA to the real problem of intellectual property infringement. OPEN is a smarter way to protect taxpayers’ rights while protecting the Internet.”

Stay tuned for more on this story as it develops. The aforementioned letter is posted below:

An open letter to Washington from Artists and Creators

We, the undersigned, are musicians, actors, directors, authors, and producers. We make our livelihoods with the artistic works we create. We are also Internet users.

We are writing to express our serious concerns regarding the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA).

As creative professionals, we experience copyright infringement on a very personal level. Commercial piracy is deeply unfair and pervasive leaks of unreleased films and music regularly interfere with the integrity of our creations. We are grateful for the measures policymakers have enacted to protect our works.

We, along with the rest of society, have benefited immensely from a free and open Internet. It allows us to connect with our fans and reach new audiences. Using social media services like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, we can communicate directly with millions of fans and interact with them in ways that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.

We fear that the broad new enforcement powers provided under SOPA and PIPA could be easily abused against legitimate services like those upon which we depend. These bills would allow entire websites to be blocked without due process, causing collateral damage to the legitimate users of the same services – artists and creators like us who would be censored as a result.

We are deeply concerned that PIPA and SOPA’s impact on piracy will be negligible compared to the potential damage that would be caused to legitimate Internet services. Online piracy is harmful and it needs to be addressed, but not at the expense of censoring creativity, stifling innovation or preventing the creation of new, lawful digital distribution methods.

We urge Congress to exercise extreme caution and ensure that the free and open Internet, upon which so many artists rely to promote and distribute their work, does not become collateral damage in the process.

There has been no shortage of support within the music community for the ongoing Occupy movements. Jeff Mangum, Talib Kweli, Tom Morello, and Crosby Stills and Nash have all delivered performances, and Kanye West an appearance at Occupy Wall Street, and Rage Against the Machine’s Zach De La Rocha recently showed his support with a poem. Now, a number of prominent musicians have bonded together and launched their own movement called Occupy Musicians.

According to an issued press release, “Occupy Musicians will serve as a resource to facilitate performances at Occupy spaces and events. Provide links to media wishing to interview Occupy-supporting musicians. Host testimony and other writings of musicians for why they support the 99 percent. Host embedded media to Occupy-related songs and music videos and network musicians to Occupy locations and Occupy fund raisers.”

As Occupy Musicians’ website points out, co-signers include Lou Reed, Talib Kweli, Tom Morello, Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye, Dead Kennedy’s Jello Biafra, Amanda Palmer, John Zorn, Dan Deacon, My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden, tUnE-yArDs’ Merill Garbus, Sharon Van Etten, former Titus Andronicus guitarist Amy Klein, Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart, Kimya Dawson, and Mirah, among others.

What: Using groundbreaking animation techniques, the Evelyn Evelyn video follows the lyrics to tell a story in the fog of glass windows. Dark Horse Comics also comics just released a graphic novel on the duo’s history, as told by musicians Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley, and documented by the artist Cynthia von Buhler with an afterward by Neil Gaiman.

Director: Hoku Uchiyama
Produced by: Erich Lochner, Matt Miller, and Adam Bolt
Lead Animator: Adam Bolt
Executive Producers: Jason Webley & Amanda Palmer
Director of Photography: Adam David Meltzer
Evelyn Evelyn played by: Lexi Ibrahim & Nikki Ibrahim
Composite Work: Travis Gorman & Michael Scott
Additional Composite Work: Caleb Clark & Geronimo Moralez
Skeleton-Dance Animator: Julian Birchman
Additional Animation: David Johnston
Character Design: Adam Bolt
Additional Character Design: Odessa Sawyer
Wardrobe Designer: Jessica Huang
Production Design: David A. Novak
1st Assistant Camera: Louis Normandin
Gaffer/Dolly Grip: Rex Kinney
Sound Design: Mike Weinstein
VFX Consultants: Dan Blank & Arvin Bautista
Hair & Makeup: Stephanie Bravo
Skeleton-Dance Performance & Choreography: Shaheed Qaasim & Joanna Meinl
Production Manager: Sky Prendergast

Lexi Ibrahim & Nikki Ibrahim

Well, folks… back from the field and here again at Cluster 1. Outside Lands was quite a weekend, and we have some radical exclusive content coming your way in the form of interviews, live footage, and some more festival goodies. So, stay tuned, but for now, enjoy the past few day’s posts.

Interviews:

Cluster 1 Interview with Chris Frantz (of the Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club) – Our very own Cap Blackard sat down with Chris Frantz to talk a darker sound, more EPs, and a tour with the Psychedelic Furs.

Series:

f e e d b a c k Episode 6 – “Battles” – One minute they have the strangest single of the year, the next they’re working with Gary Numan. Clearly, Battles are doing something right.

Documentaries:

Shaking Light (Vol. 2 Ep. 7): “Sweet Lights” – Sweet Lights, aka multi-instrumentalist Shai Halperin, records a thickly layered track over the course of 24 hours.

Shorts:

The Birth – Birthed from boxes? Not so far from the real thing.

Bad Things that Could Happen – The keyword in this title is “could.”

Animation:

Yowie and the Magpie – A dedicated hunter chases down a legendary creature that seems to be very dangerous.

Storytime – Terry Gilliam made this in 1968, and it certainly looks like it. Not to mention, it is totally creepy.

The Bone Orchard – Another 3D animation film done on the program Movie Storm; this film shows a conversation between two cowboys in a saloon.

Music Videos:

Amanda Palmer – “Oasis” – A dark-natured story is told over the most happy song and colorful music video.

Yawn – “Acid” – Psychedelic and totally spacey… Syd Barrett would be so proud.

The Wombats – “Techno Fan” – Apparently, the band developed software to make their creative vision come true.  While the band starts out as well-done illustrations, they slowly become full humans.

Marissa Nadler – “Alabaster Queen” – An enchanting dancer puts on a display deep in the forest.

Mandala – “Blue Darkening” – A tale of life and death in a beautiful forest.

Pujol – “Too Safe” – Daniel Pujol certainly doesn’t play it safe hanging out with all these freaks of the Renaissance Fair.

Don’t Forget…

– Want a constant stream of musical goodness? Check out our Channel, featuring over 30 music videos, several short films, and other nifty clips, all crammed together in one non-stop barrage of visual and aural stimulation.

- Social networking is a way of life, so follow us at @cluster1tv and on Facebook

Amanda Palmer and crazy hijinks are a match made in heaven (or hell, depending on your perspective). So Michael Pope’s video for “Oasis” should come as no surprise. Tackling the subject of sexual assault with Beach Boys harmonies, brightly colored settings, and smiles all around, the mood whiplash will cause your head to spin. Also, keep an eye out of the mailman who bites an envelope. He’s only there for a second, but he steals the show.

“Oasis” is from Amanda Palmer’s 2008 album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?

Directed by: Michael Pope
Produced by: BriAnna Olson & MediaVox

While collaborating with Bob Saget is clearly the pinnacle for any musician’s resume, Ben Folds has had a long, fruitful career up to that glorious moment. Whether it was with Ben Folds Five or on his own, Folds has a rich back catalog, one which he’ll make great use of when he releases his career retrospective The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective this October.

The three-CD release will see a different focus for each disc. The first, The Best Imitation of Myself, features everything from the Ben Folds Five hit “Brick” to Folds’ collaboration with author Nick Hornby in the track “From Above” (this CD will also be available as a single disc.) The next disc comprises itself of Folds’ picks for best live cuts from 1997 to 2011 and includes collabos with Rufus Wainwright and the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. The last disc is made up entirely of rarities, including several demos and the Amanda Palmer-Neil Gaiman-Damian Kulash-featuring “Because the Origami”. Each track has been remastered and the release contains liner notes and track-by-track observations by Folds himself.

While the 61 tracks that make up the collection are the cream of the crop, Folds found an additional 55 “ultra rarities” to release. Everyone who pre-orders the collection will receive a code to download a five-song EP containing some of these songs, with the remaining 50 available for purchase on Folds’ official website.

Check out the entire tracklist below. The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective hits stores October 11th via Legacy Recordings.

The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective Tracklist:
CD 1: The Best Imitation of Myself
01. Brick (Radio Mix) (with Ben Folds Five)
02. Annie Waits
03. Philosophy (with Ben Folds Five)
04. Underground (with Ben Folds Five)
05. Landed (Strings Version)
06. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces (with Ben Folds Five)
07. Don’t Change Your Plans (with Ben Folds Five)
08. The Luckiest
09. Smoke (with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra)
10. Rockin’ the Suburbs
11. Kate (with Ben Folds Five)
12. Gracie
13. Still Fighting It (Extended Version)
14. You Don’t Know Me (with Regina Spektor)
15. There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You
16. Still
17. From Above (with Nick Hornby)
18. House (with Ben Folds Five)

CD 2: Live (1997 – 2011)
01. Julianne (with Ben Folds Five)
02. Video (with Ben Folds Five)
03. Song for the Dumped (with Ben Folds Five)
04. Missing the War (with Ben Folds Five)
05. Mess (with Ben Folds Five)
06. Magic (with Ben Folds Five)
07. Selfless, Cold and Composed
08. Zak and Sara
09. Girl
10. Just Pretend (with the Bens)
11. Fred Jones Part 2 (with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra)
12. Careless Whisper (featuring Rufus Wainwright)
13. All U Can Eat
14. Long Tall Texan
15. Army (with Ben Folds Five)
16. Battle of Who Could Care Less (with Ben Folds Five)
17. Kylie from Connecticut
18. Effington
19. Picture Window
20. Sentimental Guy
21. Not the Same

CD 3: Rarities (1991 – 2011)
01. Unrelated (Demo)
02. Best Imitation of Myself (Demo)
03. Rocky (Demo)
04. Boxing (Demo)
05. Julianne (with Ben Folds Five)
06. Evaporated (with Ben Folds Five)
07. Alice Childress
08. Barrytown (with Ben Folds Five)
09. Amelia Bright (with Ben Folds Five)
10. Tell Me What I Did (with Ben Folds Five)
11. Rock Star (Demo)
12. Losing Lisa (Demo)
13. Break Up at Food Court (Demo)
14. Wandering (Demo)
15. Hiro’s Song (Demo)
16. The Secret Life of Morgan Davis (Alternate Mix)
17. Such Great Heights (Alternate Mix)
18. B*tches Ain’t Sh*t
19. Time (Alternate Version)
20. Sleazy
21. Because the Origami (with Amanda Palmer, Neil Gaiman, Damian Kulash)
22. Stumblin’ Home Winter Blues (with Ben Folds Five)

Now available as a free download in exchange for a good ol’ LIKE on Facebook, the LP features takes on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Meat Puppets, “Breed” by Titus Andronicus, “Lithium” by The Vaselines, and “Endless, Nameless” by EMA. Other contributing artists include Surfer Blood, Charles Bradley, Amanda Palmer, and Telekinesis. Check out the complete tracklist below.

The album is being released in conjunction with the magazine’s August issue, which features insight and praise for Nevermind from Eddie Vedder, Wayne Coyne, and David Grohl. It also follows a similar project done by SPIN a couple years back to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Prince’s Purple Rain.

As for other Nevermind-related festivities, don’t forget about the forthcoming reissue, which will see release on September 19th in the UK and September 20th in the U.S via Universal. There’s also a museum exhibit worth checking out.

Newermind Tracklist:
01. Meat Puppets – Smells Like Teen Spirit
02. Butch Walker – In Bloom
03. Midnight Juggernauts – Come As You Are
04. Titus Andronicus – Breed
05. The Vaselines – Lithium
06. Amanda Palmer – Polly
07. Surfer Blood – Territorial Pissings
08. Foxy Shazam – Drain You
09. Jessica Lea Mayfield – Lounge Act
10. Charles Bradley and the Menahan Street Band – Stay Away
11. Telekinesis – On A Plain
12. JEFF the Brotherhood – Something In The Way
13. EMA – Endless, Nameless

OK, you get the idea. It’s bound to get even more exciting in the weeks to come. Stay tuned.

– Want to pick the latest video for Scattered Trees? Click here to find out more.

– Album streams galore! NPR started offered an early taste of Panda Bear‘s Tomboy, and you can hear TV on the Radio‘s Nine Types of Light right now on Rhapsody.

– Bonnaroo announced a round of additions to its already massive lineup.

– Details on The Creators Project‘s plans for Coachella 2011 surfaced.

– The Grammys did a little bit of category overhaul.

– As always, plenty of Record Store Day-related news to report. Not only will Jack White and Jerry Lee Lewis get together, but My Morning Jacket have some exclusive releases planned as well. Also, if you happen to by in NYC, you should most definitely come to our official afterparty. More info on that is available here.

–Radiohead’s King of Limbs came in at #6 on the Billboard Top 200.

– A certain Cee-Lo Green song finally reached number one.

– Cults announced their debut album.

– Incubus revealed they’ve got a new album coming out this summer.

– Bloc Party ended their hiatus.

– There’s a brand new Death Cab for Cutie single to hear and a “live video” to watch.

– Kate Bush unveiled a new track called “Deeper Understanding.”

– Get a feel for Beastie Boys‘ Hot Sauce Committee, Part 2. Listen to its lead single. Watch the trailer for Fight for Your Right Revisited while you’re at it.

– Kings of Leon will screen their yet-to-be finished documentary at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

– The Flaming Lips…um, there’s really no good way to describe they’re up to these days. Just read this.

– David Bowie got his very own app.

– Sufjan Stevens is actually going to play an outdoor festival this summer, with a little help from an “intergalactic” troupe of muppets.

– Amanda Palmer and Ben Folds will come together to create in album later this month…in eight hours.

– Oh, and Gucci Mane was arrested again. Shocking, right?

– Wasting Light is finally here. See what E.N. May had to say about Foo Fighters‘ latest effort here.

– Karina Halle shared her thoughts on The Kills‘ new record, Blood Pressures.

– Adele just released the follow-up to 19, the appropriately titled 21, which Nick Freed was nice enough to review for us.

– Jeremy D. Larson was lucky enough to catch The Mountain Goats and Megafaun in Chicago this week.

– Winston Robbins found some “true hip hop” at this years’ Paid Dues Independent Hip Hop Festival.

– Chris Coplan interviewed Hangout Music Festival mastermind AJ Niland.

– Kurt Cobain took his own life seventeen years ago. Reminiscence with Megan Ritt’s report on a new production celebrating the troubled frontman’s life and David Buchanan’s take on the “You Know You’re Right” video.

On April 25th, Amanda Palmer of Bostonian cabaret band The Dresden Dolls, Ben Folds, Ok Go‘s Damian Kulash, and author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman series, Good Omens) will be locked in a studio between the hours of 4 p.m. and midnight. They’ll be tasked with creating an eight-song effort that will debut just 10 hours later at a special presentation. Nine hours after that, they’ll take the stage to perform the material for Rethink Music conference registrants. The concert will also feature Basia Bulat and Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears.

As wild as that sounds, keep in mind that conference is focusing on the digital era, and that means Twitter. “The four of us are creative internet addicts with our own huge Twitter circles,” says Palmer. “This project is exciting as it will give us the opportunity to collide our circles.”

The idea is more than a giant collaboration; it’s a way of exemplifying the growing lack of necessity for record companies in terms of distribution and buzz. Explains Kulash, “If the recording industry is supposed to be a means of connecting musicians to music listeners, well, then, here it is – spontaneous and circular.” Bypassing the middle man, this project not only allows audiences almost instant access to the music, it gives them a presence in the actual creation.

In order to attend the presentation and/or concert, you must be registered for the April 25th-27th Rethink Music conference. With plenty of panels and presentations in addition to this experiment, the $795 ($245 for “qualified students and working musicians”) registration fee seems . . . reasonable? For those who can’t afford attendance, have no fear; the whole collaboration will be streamed live from the studio at rethink-music.com. The album will be released on Bandcamp.com, with the proceeds from the first week of downloads going to Berklee City Music, providing free music education to underprivileged teens. Head over to the conference’s website for all the details.

“This whole record is a love letter to Australia and New Zealand. I have a special relationship with the Australian people. It was the first continent where Dresden Dolls landed and it was Beatlemania. I have a huge resonance with the place and the people. Plus I hate being cold.”

The 12-track effort features collaborations with Dresden Doll bandmate Brian Viglione and English dance group The Young Punx, as well as covers of Nick Cave and Peter Jefferies. Palmer also teamed up with with Ben Folds and acclaimed author Neil Gaiman to create a photography storybook to accompany the album.

Appropriately, Palmer will support the release with a string of dates across Australia and New Zealand. Below, peep the full list of confirmed dates, the album’s tracklist, and stream and/or buy the track “Map Of Tasmania”.

Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under Tracklist:
01. Makin’ Whoopee
02. Vegemite (The Black Death)
03. Australia
04. Map of Tasmania (feat. The Young Punx)
05. In My Mind (feat. Brian Viglione)
06. Bad Wine and Lemon Cake
07. New Zealand
08. On an Unknown Beach (Peter Jefferies cover)
09. We’re Happy Little Vegemites (Vegemite jingle cover)
10. Doctor Oz
11. A Formidable Marinade
12. The Ship Song (Nick Cave cover)

Amanda Palmer 2011 Tour Dates:
01/15 – Tasmania, AU @ Mono Foma Festival
01/17 – Tasmania, AU @ Mono Foma Workshop
01/26 – Sydney, AU @ Sydney Opera House
02/01 – Canberra, AU @ James O Fairfax Theatre
02/04 – Perth, AU @ Fly By Night
02/10 – Byron Bay, AU @ Great Northern
02/12 – Brisbane, AU @ The Old Museum
02/19 – Wellington, NZ @ Bodega
02/22 – Christchurch, NZ @ Al’s Bar
02/26 – Melbourne, AU @ The Forum Theatre

The band, which announced their plans via a video you can check out below, will come together at Irving Plaza for a show that is sure to be filled with creepy punk cabaret music and “interesting” costume choices by audience members. From there, it’s several shows across the U.S., including gigs in New Orleans for a Gulf oil spill benefit show for BTNEP, Lexington, KY, Chicago, IL, and a series of shows in Texas. Full tour dates are below.

Tickets for the Halloween show go on sale September 9th; head here for more info. Tickets for the remaining shows can be bought at the individual venue’s websites. As always, stay tuned for more reunion news and tour updates as they’re announced.

The Dresden Dolls 2010 Tour Dates:
10/31 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza (10th Bandiversary Halloween Show)
11/12 – New Orleans, LA @ Tiptina’s
11/13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Buckhead Theatre
11/14 – Lexington, KY @ Buster’s Billards & Backroom
11/16 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
11/17 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
11/19 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre
11/20 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
11/21 – Austin, TX @ La Zona Rosa

Due for release on July 17th, the aptly titled Amanda Palmer Plays the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele is exactly what you think it is: Amanda Palmer playing some of the UK outfit’s most notable songs — “Idioteque”, “Creep”, “No Surprises”, “High and Dry”, and “Fake Plastic Trees” — on her Ukulele. (There will also be a bonus version of “Exit Music (For a Film)” for piano and string quartet that was recorded live at The Sydney Opera House with Australian arranger Lyndon Chester on violin and San Francisco’s famed loop-tech-goddess Zoë Keating on cello.)

Unlike more recent Radiohead efforts, however, Palmer will be seeking money in exchange for her release. But it won’t be to pocket. Instead, Palmer will be asking for a donation of at least 84¢ for a digital copy of the effort, 54¢ of which will go directly back into Radiohead’s pockets for the legal use of their songs (with the remaining 30¢ going to PayPal to cover the transaction fee). According to an issued press release, Palmer is hoping that this EP will be a good education for music fans about how cover songs “work” and how artists pay for their usage.

A special vinyl edition (limited to 1,000 copies) will also be available and sports some special extras, including ukuleles hand-painted by Amanda (inspired by the various songs she’s covered), as well as a personal phone call from Amanda, during which she’ll take Radiohead cover requests.

All configurations will be available starting July 17th via amandapalmer.net. The release will be accompanied by a Special Luau Webcast (time TBD) during which Palmer hopes to lead a tiki-lit limbo contest.

Meanwhile, Palmer continues to tour with Evelyn Evelyn — her theatrical side-project with Seattle songwriter Jason Webley. Find upcoming tour dates for that here.

The all-girl album contains songs from collaborators Tegan & Sara along with Amanda Palmer, Holly Miranda, Deradoorian, Scarlett Johannson, and others. While Antonoff is pleased with the efforts of his band’s third full-length album, Terrible Thrills came about because, well, having women sink their teeth into the songs and breath new life into them just seemed natural.

“I couldn’t be happier with how the new Steel Train album turned out,” Antonoff said. “But when I was writing these new songs, I had pictured a female taking the lead. With Terrible Thrills, my wish came true.”

The first track from the album will be available shortly on the band’s website. You can get your copy of Terrible Thrills Vol. 1 by pre-ordering the Steel Train album at their official site. Steel Train is out June 29th via the band’s own Terrible Thrills label.

Terrible Thrills Vol. 1 Artists (in order of appearance):
Scarlett Johansson
Tegan & Sara
Holly Miranda
Deradoorian
Alia Shawkat
Amanda Palmer
Elizabeth and the Catapult
Charlotte Caffey (of The Go Go’s) and Astrid McDonald
Anna Waronker
Rachel Antonoff

Though an official announcement is still forthcoming, Palmer hinted at the project in a recent email to fans (via TwentyFourBit):

i’m going to unveil my NEW ALBUM PROJECT, which *might* be an EP, and it *might* be an EP of radiohead songs, and i *might* be playing those radiohead songs on a magical instrument like, oh, a little ukulele.

The effort is expected to be released this summer, which, you know, isn’t too far. So stayed tune for more details.

Running in Boston from August through October, the play pairs her again with Steven Bogart, who she calls a “directing genius.” The two previously collaborated on With the Needle That Sings in Her Heart, a musical blending Neutral Milk Hotel’s In the Aeroplane Over the Sea with The Diary of Anne Frank.

In a blog post, Palmer detailed how fans can get involved with the production:

We’re planning on a really INTERACTIVE and DARK show, with lots of room for INCLUSION from the local boston & NYC fanbase, so keep your eyes peels for opportunities over the summer to get involved in the creation and production of the show, from set construction to local weird street-team promotion to volunteer character brigade at the shows themselves.

Cabaret comes on the heels of Palmer’s current theatrical venture Evelyn Evelyn, a conjoined-twin music duo she created with Jason Webley. Having just finished touring Europe, the pair return for a month-long North American trek beginning May 17th in Vancouver.

While we wait for more details about show dates and tickets, get a taste with this video of Palmer performing Cabaret’s “Don’t Tell Mama” with the Boston Pops in 2008.

The new poppy folk ballad dubbed “Do You Swear To Tell The Truth The Whole Truth And Nothing But The Truth So Help Your Black Ass” is a poetic song about running through life doing what other people want you to do and how it simply never pays off no matter what they tell you. Sound familiar? You got that right! With this song Palmer openly admits with balls the whole truth and nothing but the truth while venting about past mistakes (Roadrunner Records) in a cheery and quirky manner that’s unmistakably Palmer. She sings, “If I want to smoke crack and slash tires/make jokes you don’t like/or paint ducks and retire/you can bet your black ass that I’m going to”. How uplifting is that?

So hurry up and head over here for a free download where you can also choose to donate money that will directly go to Palmer herself and sing along to “The Truth” using the provided lyrics. (We also provided a stream below). For more detailed information on the whole fiasco and some information about the significance behind the song from Palmer herself, check out her full blog entry about the whole affair. And don’t miss her latest “discovery” with Jason Webley and Evelyn Evelyn on their first U.S. tour. Dates can be found here.

“FREEEE AT LAAAST!!! after 2 long years of legal battle, i’ve been released from the label.”

–Amanda Palmer, who has never been shy about detailing the awkward situation between her and now former label Roadrunner Records, relays the good news via her Twitter. She also included a, well, NSFW picture for kicks.

According to TwentyFourBit, March 30th will mark the release of a collaborative album from Dresden Dolls’ frontwoman Palmer and friend Jason Wembley. The twist? They are performing as conjoined twins. Titled Evelyn Evelyn, the duo already has a European tour scheduled with a full tour of the U.S. expected to follow. If you are wondering just what might this sideshow-inspired act look like, YouTube has answers.

As for Frances Bean Cobain, she will sing backup along with an all-star (kind of) cast that includes badass writer Neil Gaiman, funny man (kind of) “Weird Al” Yankovic, funny man Andrew WK, and, um, My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way. Tegan and Sara are also on-board the track, titled “My Space”, as is ex-Hold Steady member Franz Nicolay, Margaret Cho, and Eugene Mirman. That sounds like the best top 8 ever!

Only time will tell what Cobain actually sounds like (or if we will be able to hear her over the choir of randoms), but here’s to hoping she takes after Pops. Enjoy a track from Evelyn Evelyn, titled “Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn?”, below!

Check Out:
“Have You Seen My Sister Evelyn?”

Evelyn Evelyn 2010 Tour Dates:
04/12 – Boston, MA @ ART Theater
04/17 – Glasgow, UK @ Oran Mor
04/19 – Dublin, IE @ The Academy
04/22 – London, UK @ Koko
04/23 – London, UK @ Bush Hall
04/24 – London, UK @ Bush Hall
04/25 – London, UK @ Bush Hall
04/27 – Paris, FR @ L’Européen
04/28 – Amsterdam, NL @ Melkwag
04/29 – Hamburg, DE @ Kampnagel
05/01 – Berlin, DE @ Babylon
05/03 – Cologne, DE @ Gloria
05/04 – Antwerp, BE @ Arenbergschouwburg

As it turns out, the April Smith in reference, with her band, The Great Picture Show have a new album, Songs For a Sinking Ship, due out on February 23rd. The 11-track affair was produced by Dan Romer (Ingrid Michaelson, Jenny Owen Youngs) and includes quite the eclectic instrumentation, including a piano, upright bass, drums, guitar, horns, ukulele, accordion and even, and even, when the occasion warrants, a suitcase used as a bass drum.

We should also point out that the album is entirely fan funded.  In the summer of 2009, Smith sought to raise $10,000 to record and release from her fans via Kickstarter.com. In the two months allotted for the campaign, Smith exceeded her goal, eventually earning more than $13,000 in pledges. Public Enemy might want to take note.

What’s more, the albums “Terrible Things” is currently featured in a promo spot for the Showtime TV series Californication, as evident by clicking this link.

Mainstream beat? It’s sure looking like it.

Songs For a Sinking Ship Tracklist:
01. Movie Loves A Screen
02. Terrible Things
03. Drop Dead Gorgeous
04. Can’t Say No
05. What’ll I Do?
06. Colors
07. Dixie Boy
08. The One That Got Away
09. Beloved
10. Wow and Flutter
11. Stop Wondering

April Smith & The Great Picture Show 2010 Tour Dates:
12/19 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre (Glen Burtnik’s 19th Xmas Xtravaganza)
12/31 – Boston, MA @ Boston Symphony Hall *

* = w/ Amanda Palmer

Take the below video for example. As far as we can tell, Amanda Palmer‘s covering Radiohead’s “Creep” by a lake and using a ukulele, while dressed in a bikini probably wasn’t planned. But that’s just our guess…

Now this generally means pranks, or hoaxes. Basically, something like what Peter Bjorn & John recently unveiled:

The video is just genius for the mere fact that if you weren’t paying super close attention, you’d actually believe this Swedish trio had somehow picked up a new sound in the last 24 hours. At least, that’s what happened to yours truly when I first checked out the video this morning. (Oh, and in case you were wondering, the sounds at hand come from St Sanders, a Youtube genius who has crafted the technique of making indie pop outfits actually look like they are shredding – heavy metal style.)

Then there’s the little gem Amanda Palmer has offered up. To be fair, Ms. Palmer’s aptly titled “Please Drop Me” was first debuted days before April Fools, and is anything but a prank/hoax. But because only now the internet, and executives which song is aimed at are getting wind of the number, it might come off as a bit confusing…

Moral of the story: if you want to get dropped by your record label, don’t do it around April Fools’ Day. But that’s coming from someone who has already been pranked like 134 times today.

Edit: Then again, probably not…

The album was produced by and features Ben Folds, the title is a Twin Peaks references, it was recorded in Nashville and Scotland among other places and there is even a companion film to go with it. Songs have been leaked months in advance and the press has been anticipating the album all year long. Many fans have also wondered what kind of actual solo album this would be. Would it be scraps and leftovers from Dresden Dolls material or something new? After touring with some more mainstream bands, would Palmer sell out? Would the album be all piano?  So with all of this going on and these questions building up, is it any good?

The album starts off with a track that features Folds, called “Astronuat(A Short History of Nearly Nothng)”. It’s not quite as poppy as stuff off Yes, Virginia, but still features the trademark ‘loud-then-soft-then-loud’ piano work by Palmer. It also features a little more advanced percussion than expected from her solo effort. “Runs in the Family” is indicative of the whole album. It’s very grandiose and features full string sections and even some electronic instrumentation. “Leeds United” can be described as bombastic, if you are the type of person to actually say bombastic. It sports an over the top horn part, where Palmer takes her voice to the limit, and it features lyrics like, “Who needs love/when there’s southern comfort?”

“Strength Through Music” is dark and eerie. It combines a bizarre sample from an online cartoon series mixed with emotional lyrics about school violence and death. The haunting piano melody behind everything really packs an emotional punch, too. The track is followed immediately by “Guitar Hero”, which is the rocker of the album and is poised to be an underground college radio hit. It’s reminiscent of songs like “Shores of California” and “Dirty Business”. “Oasis” is one of the more challenging songs lyrically. It revolves around rape and the trip to the abortion clinic right after. Musically, the song melds 50′s styled pop rock beneath some edgy lyrics. This combination is similar to the formula for Dresden Dolls songs (challenging lyrics with an interesting music choice behind it), but having Ben Folds produce it, this track sounds slicker and more complete.

The album and songs on Who Killed Amanda Palmer? answer all these earlier questions. Ben Folds does indeed add something special to the album. His pop sensibilities and mainstreamor independent capabilities help the album tremendously. Palmer has not sold out, she is still one of the stronger female lyricists in music and flexes her writing muscle through the album. She is constantly challenging the listener with her words. Sadly, no Twin Peaks references are really found in the album lyrics.

All the material is fresh and new sounding. This is not a Dresden Dolls album, it is an Amanda Palmer album and it shows. With the more over the top nature of the orchestration of the songs, it should be interesting to see how her work here carries over to the next Dresden Dolls album. So yes, the album is good. It will no doubt bring some new listeners over to the Dresden Dolls. The album as a whole is not for everyone just due to the challenging artistic nature of the work, but there is an emotional attachement to a song for anyone who wants to discover it.

Overall, Who Killed Amanda Palmer? contains some of the strongest work by Palmer. As a solo artist, Palmer is a little more approachable than with the Dresden Dolls and the whole image of that band. In fact, the music in many songs have a very innocent feel that play off the darkness of the lyrics. For those unfamiliar with Palmer or the Dresden Dolls, this is a good place to start and for the fans, it’s definitely something new to enjoy.

Check Out: