Pick of the Week #33: Ben Folds Presents University A-Cappella

The typical fare in this here Pick of the Week have been mostly independent, Canadian bands, with a few exceptions (Bowerbirds, The Antlers, Glasvegas); but mostly, as my buddy Kurtis would say, they have been bands from Woodstock, Ontario who need haircuts (note: I'm pretty sure I've never written about a band actually from Woodstock). Either way, it felt like it was time to mix things up a little bit with the PotW, and there is probably nothing further from what I usually write about than the barbershop a cappella's of Ben Folds' quirky pop songs.

I used to be a Huge (hence the capitalization) Ben Folds/Ben Folds Five/The Bens fan; like, with a couple of friends I (someone else) drove 5-6-7 hours to see him in some college gymnasium in Oswego, NY, kind of liked him. Now, not so much. I mean, I still think Rockin' the Suburbs, Ben Folds Live, Whatever and Ever Amen are terrific albums - especially BFL - but if this were another Ben Folds album I probably wouldn't have even bothered to download it.

However (as the title of the album suggests) Ben Folds Presents University A Cappella is most certainly not a run of the mill Ben Folds album. It is (as the title of the album suggests) a collection of University A Cappella groups covering the work of BF. The songs are strategically selected from the entire BF catalogue, which unfortunately means that there are a smattering of songs from Songs for Silverman and (barf) Way to Normal. The vomit inducing songs from Way to Normal notwithstanding, the album is pretty serious amount of fun... if you're a fan of Ben Folds, The Be Sharps, or Andy Bernard (who someone has created a myspace for, awesome) then you are going to want someone to beer you this disc.

See the University A Cappella Documentary (15 mins on Youtube) here.

Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou (Swift Feet for Troubling Times)
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week #23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse
Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day
Pick of the Week #27: Ohbijou (Beacons)
Pick of the Week #28: Dog is Blue
Pick of the Week #29: Parkas
Pick of the Week #30: The Wooden Sky
Pick of the Week #31: Bowerbirds
Pick of the Week #32: Miss Maya