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What Matters Most (Ben Folds album)

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What Matters Most
Studio album by
Ben Folds
ReleasedJune 2, 2023
Recorded2022
StudioMiddletree (Nashville)
GenreChamber pop[1]
Length38:36
Label
ProducerJoe Pisapia
Ben Folds chronology
So There
(2015) 		What Matters Most
(2023) 		Sleigher
(2024)
Singles from What Matters Most
  1. "Winslow Gardens"
    Released: February 15, 2023
  2. "Exhausting Lover"
    Released: April 12, 2023
  3. "Back to Anonymous"
    Released: May 19, 2023
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
American Songwriter[4]
Glide Magazine70/100[5]
Mojo[2]
MusicOMH[6]
PopMatters6/10[7]
Slant Magazine[8]
Sputnik Music2/5[9]
Under the Radar[10]

What Matters Most is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ben Folds. Released on June 2, 2023, by New West Records, it was preceded by So There in 2015.[11][12]

The album was announced on February 15, 2023, along with the release of the first single from the album, "Winslow Gardens". Folds toured the U.S. and Europe starting on March 24, 2023, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and ending on December 4, 2023, in Essen, Germany.[13]

In an interview Folds called his album his most "true" to date, saying "I come from the vinyl era, and this perhaps more than any record I've made is a true album. There's a very specific sequence and arc to each side, all building up to this almost surreal positive finale, and that structure was really important to me." In the same interview, he says "Sonically, lyrically, emotionally, I don't think it's an album I could have made at any other point in my career."[14]

Two more singles were released with "Exhausting Lover" being released on April 12, 2023, and "Back to Anonymous" being released on May 19, 2023.

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Ben Folds, except where noted

What Matters Most – Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."But Wait, There's More" 3:42
2."Clouds with Ellipses" (featuring dodie) 3:01
3."Exhausting Lover" 3:36
4."Fragile" 3:36
5."Kristine from the 7th Grade" 5:23
6."Back to Anonymous" 4:21
7."Winslow Gardens" 3:26
8."Paddleboat Breakup" 4:49
9."What Matters Most" 4:11
10."Moments" (featuring Tall Heights)
3:53
Total length:39:58
What Matters Most – Deluxe CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Happy Clapper" 4:03
12."Why Did You Tell Me Everything"
  • Folds
  • D. Cullen
3:45
13."A Million Years or So"Roger Miller2:27
What Matters Most – Limited edition vinyl (Flexi disc bonus track)
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Ghost in You"
4:02
Total length:4:02

Personnel

[edit]

Musicians

[edit]
  • Ben Folds – vocals, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, drums
  • Tim Harrington – acoustic guitars, vocals
  • Paul Wright – cello, vocals
  • Ross Garren – keyboards, harmonica
  • Paul Dumas – drums, vocals
  • Joe Pisapia – electric guitars, pedal steel, vocals
  • Josh Cournoyer – background vocals
  • Jim Hoke – horns (tracks 1, 3, 9)
  • Emmanuel Echem – horns (1, 3, 9)
  • John Hinchey – horns (1, 3, 9)
  • dodie – vocals (2)
  • Rob Moose – string arrangements, violins, violas (4, 7)
  • Love Sponge Strings[a] – strings (5)
  • Ruby Amanfu – vocals (6)
  • Gabe Cabezas – cello (7)

Technical

[edit]

Artwork

[edit]
  • Sensetus – cover art
  • Matt Toll – photography
  • Sam Smith – package design

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for What Matters Most
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Scottish Albums (OCC)[15] 24
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[16] 12
UK Americana Albums (OCC)[17] 7
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[18] 12
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[19] 13

Notes

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  1. ^ Love Sponge Strings consists of Carole Rabinowitz, Kristin Wilkinson, David Davidson, and David Angel.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Murphy, John (30 May 2023). "Ben Folds - What Matters Most | Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Reviews for What Matters Most by Ben Folds". Metacritic. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  3. ^ Donelson, Marcy (2 June 2023). "AllMusic Review: Ben Folds - What Matters Most". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  4. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (2023-06-16). "Review: Ben Folds Reflects on 'What Matters Most'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  5. ^ Moore, John (May 31, 2023). "Ben Folds Returns with Emotionally-charged Piano Pop Collection 'What Matters Most' (Album Review)". Glide Magazine.
  6. ^ Murphy, John (2023-05-30). "Ben Folds - What Matters Most | Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  7. ^ "Ben Folds Returns With an LP Equal Parts Excellent and Ill-Conceived, PopMatters". PopMatters. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  8. ^ Bedenbaugh, Thomas (2023-05-29). "Ben Folds 'What Matters Most' Review: Rote Reflections on Aging". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  9. ^ "Review: Ben Folds - What Matters Most | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  10. ^ Rushbury, Ian. "What Matters Most". www.undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  11. ^ "Ben Folds Returns After Eight Years with New Album What Matters Most". Paste. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "Ben Folds - What Matters Most". New West Records. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  13. ^ "Music Tour Dates Ben Folds Announces New Album What Matters Most, 2023 Tour Dates". Consequence. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  14. ^ "Ben Folds Reveals New Album 'What Matters Most,' Single "Winslow Gardens," and 2023 Tour Dates". American Songwriter. 16 February 2023. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  17. ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Ben Folds Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved May 19, 2024.
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