What Matters Most (Ben Folds album)
2023 studio album by Ben Folds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| What Matters Most | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 2, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2022 | |||
| Studio | Middletree (Nashville) | |||
| Genre | Chamber pop[1] | |||
| Length | 38:36 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Producer | Joe Pisapia | |||
| Ben Folds chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from What Matters Most | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 70/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| American Songwriter | [4] |
| Glide Magazine | 70/100[5] |
| Mojo | [2] |
| MusicOMH | [6] |
| PopMatters | 6/10[7] |
| Slant Magazine | [8] |
| Sputnikmusic | 2/5[9] |
| Under the Radar | [10] |
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
All tracks are written by Ben Folds, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(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 | ||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Happy Clapper" | 4:03 | |
| 12. | "Why Did You Tell Me Everything" |
| 3:45 |
| 13. | "A Million Years or So" | Roger Miller | 2:27 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Ghost in You" | 4:02 | |
| Total length: | 4:02 | ||
Personnel
Musicians
- 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
- Joe Pisapia – production
- Pete Lyman – mastering
- Michael Brauer – mixing
- Joe Costa – engineering
- Josh Cournoyer – engineering assistance
Artwork
- Sensetus – cover art
- Matt Toll – photography
- Sam Smith – package design
Charts
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (Official Charts)[15] | 24 |
| UK Album Downloads (Official Charts)[16] | 12 |
| UK Americana Albums (Official Charts)[17] | 7 |
| UK Independent Albums (Official Charts)[18] | 12 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[19] | 13 |
Notes
- Love Sponge Strings consists of Carole Rabinowitz, Kristin Wilkinson, David Davidson, and David Angel.