Ranked #36 in Village Voice's 1995 Jazz & Pop Critics' Poll.
Village Voice 2/20/96
3 Stars - Good - "...a truly formidable talent, brimming over with melodic gifts...pop bliss in a jaunty piano-bass-drums package..."
Rolling Stone 10/5/95, p.69
Recommended - "...three undernourished dudes from North Carolina whose line-up is distinguished by its absolute lack of electric, or even acoustic, guitars....Imagine a world where it's OK to admit to adoring `schlocky bullshit pop'....BEN FOLDS FIVE lays down a luminescent cartoon rug into that world..."
Melody Maker 6/8/96, p.48
9 (out of 10) - "...playing songs that have more in common with Gershwin than Cobain...[Ben Folds Five] is slacker culture with good whisky instead of bad drugs....crammed full of genius moments..."
New Musical Express 4/27/96, p.53
"...favors the early-70s blue-eyed soul of Todd Rundgren and Elton John. Even if they are sometimes derivative, their energy and earnest charm will win you over." - Rating: B+
Entertainment Weekly 7/28/95, p.62
"...Folds stretches the tension between the band's uniqueness and mimicry to the breaking point. This is the oddest and most impressive pop debut of the year..."
Option 1-2/96, p.92
