Listosaurus Rex

Bartleby, over at AssociatedContent.com, has ranked the top thirty Ben Folds songs “with and without the Five,” by which he means he’s ranking songs both from Ben’s solo albums and albums by the trio he was in, Ben Folds Five.

Bartleby’s top ten:

1. Annie Waits
2. Evaporated
3. Brick
4. The Luckiest
5. Philosophy
6. Gone
7. Not the Same
8. Don’t Change Your Plans
9. Magic
10. Landed

Though I don’t agree with some of the picks, the list is clearly a product of love, attention, and thought. He’s got some level-headed analysis despite the fanatics who loathe “Brick” because it’s the only Ben song that got major airplay. I respect “Brick” at number three.

In fact, he picked ten very good songs for the top ten. Not a stinker among the bunch. I’m particularly surprised and impressed to see “Gone” at number six. I always thought of it as a “personal favorite,” but I’m glad to see others giving props to it.

Fan favorite “Philosophy” gets a mention pretty high up at number five. Many Ben Folds fans I talk to consider it his masterwork. It is indeed a great song.

My biggest gripe about the list is how “One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces” is down at number 28. It’s my absolute favorite Ben Folds song. It’s a bitterly funny revenge song full of some of the catchiest, craziest piano gymnastics you’ll ever hear in the song. A wonder to be heard, indeed.

But overall, I can’t complain about too much. Lots of great picks all around. If you are any sort of Ben Folds fan, I recommend you give his complete list a look, as he has a lot of great analyses and thoughts.