Naked Baby Photos

by

Ben Folds Five

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While Naked Baby Photos may not technically be a new Ben Folds Five album, it's definitely the next best thing. This album gives us unreleased versions of songs form other albums, B-sides, a radio performance and several live performances. Sound like it might not be worth your money? Think again. No Ben Folds Five fan should be without this album. The highlights of this album include an outstanding live performance of Underground (much better than the one on their first album), the B-Sides Emaline, Eddie Walker, and Tom and Mary, the live song Satan is My Master (actually created on stage as they recorded it), and a little jewel called For Those of Ya'll That Wear Fanny Packs. "Fanny Packs" was a recording of a song the band did while just messing around in the studio. Thank God they left the tape machine on---this song is absolutely hillarious. It's sort of rap song with a piano in it---or more likely a rap parody---you decide. Other songs worth mentioning are their first recording---a version of Jackson Cannery, a good radio performance of Alice Childress, a short instrumental called Dick Holster, Bad Idea, The Ultimate Sacrifice (BFF does heavy metal!!!....well, sort of...), a live version of philosphy, and another live song called Twin Falls. The one problem with this album is that a few of live songs tend to be hard to understand. The live version of Julianne is nearly unintelligable if you don't have a good stereo (and even then it's still pretty rough), and the version of Song for The Dumped can be hard to make out too, which is a pity, since this one was a weird but cool version. Also, the live version of Boxing isn't really worth mentioning, it's OK, but nothing compared to the one on their first album. Despite these flaws, this the genius of Ben Folds Five shines through on most of the abulm, making it well worth the money. People who are new to BFF however (particularly those who don't know anything except Underground and Brick), should probably buy Whatever and Ever Amen and/or their self-titled album first, as they might very well not appreciate this album going into it cold. For those who are already well familiar with the group, dive in. You won't be dissapointed.