Ben Folds & Nick Hornby: Lonely Avenue

Ben Folds & Nick Hornby
Lonely Avenue
Nonesuch Records [2010]









Fire Drill Review:
On paper, the concept may seem like it won't work, as the novelist meets the songwriter but this really is not a random get together but a meeting of creative minds that are very in tune with each other. Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About A Boy) of course is a great story teller that uses humor and never holds back nor has a problem adding in a little profanity for emphasis. Well guess what? This is also the style of Ben Folds, so as Lonely Avenue finds Hornby creating the lyrical stories and Folds fitting the music, the album feels and sounds like it should be included in the Ben Folds discography and Hornby's short stories section. This is good news for fans of both and there is more then one track here that will hold your interest. There are also some moments that don't completely work, like the over the top silly "Levi Johnston's Blues" and supplementing the piano for electronic blips in parts just does not fit Folds. Lonely Avenue is what it is and that means a payoff for Folds fans while Hornby followers most likely will fall in line with an album that holds its own upon completion.

Key Track: "Your Dogs"

Band With Similar Fire: Elvis Costello

Ben Folds: Ben Folds Presents - University A Cappella! [Fire Note Review 5/4/09]
Ben Folds: Way To Normal [Fire Note Review 10/1/08]

Ben Folds Website
Ben Folds MySpace
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Nonesuch Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony