It seems to me that most reviewers and fans who make the Folds 
reference do so as shorthand for piano-based pop in general, rather 
than the particularly smart-ass brand of it that Folds himself has been 
known to display.  It's just that Folds has had the most commercial 
success in the genre, and therefore is most likely to be known to those 
being introduced to the artist being compared.

Personally, I like Folds, although it's an album-to-album thing for me. 
  I thought the Five's debut was one of the top albums of the 90s, the 
Whatever and Ever Amen followup (which produced "Brick", the song that 
put Folds on the map) uneven and insufferable in points, and the 
Reinhold Messner album even more so.

Then, when he went solo, I found Rockin' The Suburbs a return to form 
of the first Ben Folds Five album (even if the title track was Folds at 
his most annoying, although perhaps it was self-parody), his interim 
EPs hit and miss, and his latest, Songs For Silverman, as a total dud 
as he tried *too* hard to be sincere and mature.

It is kind of fitting that you mention the "thin line between being 
clever or silly vs being irritating or annoying"; I'm not sure anyone 
out there makes a habit of crossing it back and forth as much as Folds.

Steve F

-----Original Message-----
   Date: Sat, 07 Jan 2006 13:15:40 -0000
   From: "floatingunder" <Steven.Durben@cignabehavioral.com>
Subject: Re: Another one I missed in 2005...


A while back I posted on how weird and slightly bothersome it is when
I expose someone to indie music I love and they say with
enthusiasm "sounds like Bens Fold Five".  Yeah, for me "smarmy and
irritating" is the overall reaction I have to him too. I'm not
meaning to ignite a war or insult fans. It's interesting (to me) the
seemingly thin line between being clever or silly vs being irritating
or annoying.  Hmm, wait a minute, sounds like posting "issues" I've
had from time to time....("focus....focus.....focus...")
Ahem, anyway, I love Southworth too. 10cc as well. I'm sure there are
fans of both here but also those who would say they are annoying.
I'm not sure I know how to even define when it works vs doesn't for
me. It just does or doesn't work..

Steve "this post is suitable for children of all ages, some assembly
required, point not included" D