#Adult dance classes Perth

[bengiyo]

Dangerous Romance Ep 7 Stray Thoughts

Last week, we crushed through the love triangle because Pimfah is so forward and Sailom didn’t lie. The class tried to push Pimfah and Kanghan together with cheerleading, but Kanghan bailed because he was salty about Pimfah being interested in Sailom. Instead, Kanghan joined the soccer team for sports day, and is apparently suspected of using his money to become a starter. We all got a laugh out of Sailom shouting Kanghan’s name. Sailom, a BL boy, confessed that he likes Kanghan in the rain and of course got sick. In continuing with this show’s abject disregard for the decisions poor people make, a sick Sailom somehow left his front door open so Kanghan was able to walk into the house and attempt to care for him (good thing it wasn’t one of the debt collectors with an iron again). We parted on Kanghan pushing another kiss on Sailom. There’s a concern from Sailom that he makes Kanghan feel guilty?

Yes, remind us that old people have health problems. Start flagging early.

“Give it to me straight.” I see you, GMMTV Subber.

I am a fan of door-based imagery for choices.

Not a pinky touch! I won’t be won over so easily!

Oh, are we back to caring about the bullying and its potential impacts on their romance?

I think Kanghan’s house is the same house Sailom (Wedding Plan) lived in.

I think Marc is at least being used decently in this show.

Here we go with the smelling like each other thing. Let’s not tell the Bennett pack.

Is Kang allergic to spicy food? Passing out on them is not helping.

I like Auto. He said, “You can throw money at me.” Let’s not forget that they burned his ticket to see his favorite girl group.

Oh good. Auto didn’t forget.

I want to see Auto dance more. He looks like he’s having so much fun.

Oh, that’s way too much liquor to ingest. And now they’ve subjected me to vomit. I hate this.

They forgot my boy Auto. At least they didn’t abandon my boy.

Well, Saifah has wiggled his way into caring for the grandmother. Let me mentally prepare for him to try to rob them.

Nothing like spilling blood on the sports field to bring two men together.

Kang missing the kick after being entrusted with the responsibility is actually kind of interesting since his primary struggle is being useless.

Guy and Auto are like, “We know you’re gay, and he’s so obvious.”

Yep, here comes Saifah’s trifling ass.

This show is fine if I maintain a slow an investment in the character arcs as possible. Don’t worry about themes, just let them play off each other. After watching Perth and Chimon play high schoolers all year, I need them to be freed from this if they continue to work next year. They’re in their mid-20s. Let them grow up. Chimon and Perth were all part of Wave 1 of BL. OffGun and TayNew are pioneering what adult romcom looks like at the end of this year into next year and they still have Chimon playing around in high school. Terrible.

[invisiblegarters]

Never Let Me Go Ep 3

I don’t know why I am so suspicious of Ben. But I really am. Going straight to Palm with info Nueng asked him not to talk about was shady but also kinda brilliant, because it is something that can easily widen the gap that status, Palm’s dad, and Palm have already put between the two of them (Nueng, bless his heart, is doing his best to pretend that that gap isn’t there). I don’t trust him at all and I don’t particularly like him for Nueng but I have to admire Ben’s balls. 

Also reluctantly admiring his manipulation at the dance class. He’s after something with Nueng, whether it be as simple as just wanting to date him or something else, and I have to admire the way he’s going about it, even if it is a bit dirty pool. Also lbr I am a sucker for the “dancing with someone while staring longingly (and jealously) at the one I really want dancing with someone else” trope and this ep delivered.

I continue to like Chopper too much. I don’t know if it’s just my Perth bias or what but I just want him to have nice things and be happy. The way he perked up at seeing Nueng and the way his face fell when the conversation turned to Ben. :-( Man, do I ever want to know just what went down there. It does feel like a little more than friends who grew apart. Chopper at least is very clearly carrying a large torch, and both of them get squirrelly when talk turns to why they no longer talk. 

The friendly ribbing between him and Nueng is cute though. I like that they seem to get along just fine when the adults aren’t around to screw things up, and I want him to be friends with Palm too. I just like him, okay? I want him to have good things and to get away from his dad before he manages to turn him into a mini me.

I really do not like Uncle It Should Be Me. I’m not supposed to, of course, so good job with that, show. He is such a creep.

I am pleased that we’re getting a bit more from Palm towards Nueng this ep. Dude clearly feels something (maybe a lot of something), and I’m all for Nueng pushing him until he gives in to it. 

[dancingnotes]

Baby Music Classes Perth | dancingnotes.com.au

If you’re looking for a way to nurture your little one’s love of music, baby music classes Perth may be just what you’re after. Not only is music-making fun for both you and your child, it can help children develop many skills in a variety of areas, including cognitive, social, language, physical and emotional development.

Musical Babes

Musical Babes is a baby music class that takes you and your little one through a variety of fun and educational musical activities. They use award winning music, interactive toys and an illustrated songbook to help your child's musical development.

The classes are available in several locations across Perth and are a great way to bond with your kids while learning something new at the same time! You'll also have the chance to meet other parents with similar aged babies in your area.

The musically inclined will be thrilled with this unique program that combines action songs, nursery rhymes and gestures derived from sign language to enrich the relationship between you and your little one. You'll have the chance to show off the best of your singing and dancing skills! Plus, you'll take home the most important musical lesson of all - a better understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses. Check out their website for more information!

Music Together

In Music Together classes, children ages birth through early elementary learn to play musical instruments, sing and dance with their families. They also develop a lifelong love of music and a desire to make more of it at home.

Music Together combines child development research with the best of music education theory to create playful, developmental music-making experiences. A trained Music Together teacher leads class songs, movement and percussion activities.

Babies, from birth through 8 months, explore music in a gentle, nurturing environment. Back-and-forth vocal play and listening activities develop babies' eyetracking skills, stimulate their new muscles and support communication development.

Parents and caregivers sing, dance, and share rhythmic movement activities to a wide range of songs from around the world. These experiences encourage babies to find their rhythms, identify sound versus silence and assimilate the basic rhythmic patterns of each song.

Adults whose children are already enrolled in Music Together can join Guitar for Grownups, where they will learn to play our songs on the guitar. It's a great way to stay connected with your kids and meet some new friends at the same time!

Staccato

Music is a great way to stimulate your little one's senses and foster their creativity. It can also provide opportunities to socialise with other parents and share a love of music.

Staccato offers a range of baby music classes for all ages. Their Elite Program for Young Talent (EPYT) is a unique music education course that combines individual and group lessons to develop your child's skills and interest. The program offers individual instrumental lessons as well as bi-weekly musicianship class covering music theory, aural skills and musical related topics.

The best part is that you'll see your child's face light up as they learn to play an instrument or sing a song they love. Plus, they'll be rewarded for their efforts with fun activities and songs that you can enjoy together at home. Hopefully this list will help you find the perfect class for your family! Good luck! Thanks for reading Perth Mums Group Useful Lists - and let us know your favourites in the comments section.

Musical Monkey

Music is the first instinct that children develop and if nurtured from birth, music can help your child blossom into a musical genius. The staff at Monkey Music know that the right early exposure to music sharpens up a whole host of skills: language, fine motor and spatial awareness are all developed through song and movement.

Babies and toddlers enjoy a lively session of singing, dancing and music making in Monkey Music classes, which are tailored for the age group of 3 months to 4 years. They are also a great way for babies and toddlers to socialise with other kids and build their confidence in themselves.

The 30 minute music classes are a gentle bonding experience for babies and toddlers alike. They will learn to move in rhythm with the songs, develop language and social skills. They will be little sponges, soaking up everything they can learn in a fun, safe and stimulating environment.

[bengiyo]

Never Let Me Go Ep 2 Stray Thoughts

I've been so busy today, so we are once again reacting to Jojo shows late at night. Really enjoyed the first episode, and excited to see the themes about family and legacy play out across class with this one.

I really like coming from the recap where Neungdiao asks Palm to be his friend to the reality that he is the help and must eat in the kitchen. Palm doesn't even recognize some of the dishes because they just aren't accessible to him.

Interesting how the adults are the ones primarily invested in this hierarchy. Neung has to order Palm to eat with him, only for Palm to be scolded before he can try anything. Now, Palm has to ride a bus when his charge is in a car. It just all seems extra.

I am unreasonably excited about Perth getting to play with Pond.

I wonder how much Chopper knows about Palm already, and what his role is in these schemes.

I love Chimon so much. He's got his own take on earnest that works for me.

Does Chopper already have an interest in Ben?

I much prefer this play on the Phuwin-Pond dynamic compared to FUTS.

Nat and Perth is an ace combination. Both of them are so expressive with small movements. The differences in their demeanors elegantly establishes Khit's resentment and Chopper's revulsion.

Neungdiao knows how to play his mom to get what he wants. Interesting that he replies upon social manipulation to reach his ends.

Chopper is into Bitcoin?? How dare this show make me view a Perth character unattractively.

Gosh that was good. Chopper has such an awkward crush on Ben, but has grown apart from him. I like the setup for jealousy from Chopper to potentially put him at odds with Neung.

Ah, so Neungdiao likes to watch? Jokes aside, Palm talked about being ready to fight. I need to know the history of this.

Are they really gonna make him dance with a tote bag on his shoulder?

Neungdiao may be jealous, but it really is just Mackie shooting her shot and Palm being polite.

Ah, I was wondering where Palm's protective response came from earlier when they cut Neungdiao's bag.

It's interesting that we can refer back to Golden Blood and see how this show is doing a much better job with the initial characterization.

Look at Ben initiating sharing the earphones.

Ben is kind of a dork and I think I love him already.

Did they intend for Ben's smirk at Palm to read as "knowing?"

Interesting that Tanya is worried about sheltering Neungdiao, but doesn't blink at asking for everything from Palm.

Oh look, a Pawin character is going to be revealed to be a villain.

[thearthausgroup]

T O N I G H T #kingstreetdance ➕5pm hip hop ➕6pm heels ➕7pm hip hop Walk ins welcome $22 DM to join the fam 🌹 . . King Street Dance specializes in adult commercial dance classes and is part of The Arthaus Group DANCE | ENTERTAINMENT | AGENCY ➕dance classes ➕entertainment ➕talent | casting ➕choreography ➕creative direction . . #thearthausgroup #dance #entertainment #agency #perth #adultdancecommunity #talent #artistsagency #perthtalent #australia #janellevaccaro #perthdirector #perthgirlbosses #choreography #artdirectiom #creativedirection #dancers #perthdance #perthdancers #adultdanceclasses #dancevideos #heelsclass #kingstreetprecinct #dancers #urbanlistperth #promises #calvinharris #welcometothefamily #comeasyouare (at King Street Arts Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpoDtnTFcOx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wwikk1l7x49g

[littleredroseonthevalley]

An Opera on Separation - Chapter 13

Prologue | Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6 | Ch. 7 | Ch. 8 | Ch. 9 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 12 | CH. 13 | Ch. 14 | Ch. 15 | Ch. 16 | Ch. 17 | Ch. 18 |

Summary: Emily’s relationship is on the rocks, but as far as Marietta Jones is concerned, the last word is still to be said on the matter. Will it be enough? Especially now that vultures roam to peck on the loves lost’s carcass.

Rating: T - Content not suitable for children.  Suitable for teens, 13 years and older, with minor suggestive adult themes.

Words: 1640

Notes: Today’s song, Kate Bush’s Suspended in Gaffa, holds a special place on my regard. I got third place back in 2016 with that on the SADF Cape Town Dance Open. So listen, and comment for my own sanity’s sakes, please.

Furthermore, I have another announcement. I placed Wildest Dreams’ sequel on temporary hold. I’m not sure I’ll finish it or if it’ll rot on the Purgatory, AKA my Documents folder, but the thing is I’m finishing a Chris fic, so...

The funniest thing is that I don’t even like The Freshman, and yet it seems to be everything I write about. I think that’s because the characters are so vain and unidimensional (they’re whiny millenials, after all), I have an easier time into molding them to suit my own evil purposes.

Enjoy.

Suspended in Gaffa

In the course of the following weeks, things seemed to settle with Emily, Queenie and Nathan.

They fell into a comfortable routine that allocated little time to pointless arguing between the three of them, and, not unlike every other morning, the young man was cooking breakfast, whistling while doing so.

“Good morning!” The youngest roommate walks into the kitchen, all smiles as often.

“Good morning, Emily!” He responded, in equal amount of cheerfulness, while flipping a pancake with a cheeky flair. “I’m almost done with your stack.”

She took a seat at the counter. “You’re on a great mood this morning.” She noted.

The blond took to an uncharacteristic move and chuckled heartily. “Yeah, I suppose I am.”

“Any special motives?” The redhead probes, appreciative of the enjoyable and non-conflictive new mood of her housemate.

“No, nothing special.” The man answers, and after a while, continues: “I don’t know, I just have so much free time these days. I’m caught up with my movies and books I’ve been wanting to read for years. I picked up squash again with Mr. Hibert, down at 4B. And I’m cooking! I love to cook, but I couldn’t even eat right back when I was working.”

The young woman smiled kindly at him. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“I am very happy.” He nodded. “Today’s the last day of school, isn’t it?”

She shook her head. “Nah, the students get off today, but the teachers will have to wait until Friday to leave for the Winter break. We have exams and planning meetings to attend.”

“So you’re free this weekend?” He asks while settling the stack of pancakes in front of her.

“I have to grade the end-of-term tests for my students, but after that I’m completely free.” She responds. “And these pancakes are to die for!”

The fair-headed man smirks. “Thanks. And I was thinking of watching a stupid blockbuster on the big TV on the living room Saturday night. Would you care to join?”

The ginger tutted. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt if I didn’t finish it all on the first day of break. Sure, why not? Six works for you?”

He scoffed. “I’ll be sure to work it out on my busy, busy schedule.”

“Don’t you make a girl feel special?” She laughed of his comment.

The two of them continue to talk amicably until it was time for Emily to leave for school.

“Hello, Ms. Harper.” Marietta knocks on the door of the classroom while Emily got ready for lunch. “I wanted to have a word with you today. Could I walk you to the teacher’s lounge?”

“Of course.” She responded, wary of what could possibly be the subject of such conversation.

The two women walked out the room, Emily locked the door and Marietta begun to talk: “You see, Ms. Harper, I have been speaking with a few of your students about your classes.”

The redhead gasps softly in concern. “Is there something wrong? If there’s something I could do better, I would be more than happy to rectify my behaviour.”

The Caribbean woman laughed, dismissively. “Oh, no, not at all. Much the opposite, the students say they love your classes. I believe their words were ‘kind’, ‘patient’ and ‘smart’. You’ve made a great impression on them!”

Emily giggled in embarrassment. “They are great students, as well. I’m glad they like my teaching, especially for me being so inexperienced.”

“Experience is the one thing you can be sure it comes with time.” Ms. Jones smiles kindly. “Ms. Harper, I have to ask, what’s your plans for the next school year?”

“I’m not really sure.” She confessed. “I’m still trying to settle in New York and all the singledom and living with my mom again.”

The two educators reach the teachers’ lounge and take a seat over an unoccupied table.

The black woman, then, nods to the other’s declaration. “Well, I think you already know, but Mr. Smith of the English department is retiring in June. And the superintendent insists in sending the worse hires, we rarely take the long end of the stick with teachers around here.

“Which leads me to my question: would you be interested in teaching high school come August? You’ll receive a raise, of course, and you’ll have your own classroom. And…” She stops to think a little. “I guess those are all the benefits I can offer you.”

“But what about my GED classes?” The younger woman asks, concerned for them not having a Reading teacher in the coming year.

“That’s up to you. If you feel that you can handle the extra workload, then you can keep on teaching both levels. But if you prefer teaching high school only, you also may. The raise will be less generous, but you’ll still have enough hours to qualify for full-time.” The principal explains.

Emily, hearing that, smiles widely. “Well, then I’m in. I’d love to teach high school and GED classes next year.”

It seemed like a load got out of Marietta’s shoulder. “I’m glad to hear it. I’ll contact the superintendent and inform him we’ll have a full English department next year, and you should talk to Mr. Smith about the transition.”

“Of course, ma’am.” The redhead nods.

“Moving on to lighter subjects,” The other woman smiles. “Who’s your Secret Santa?”

The white woman smirks. “Shouldn’t it be a secret?”

“I don’t do Secret Santa ever since a student thought it’d be funny to gift me a pair of lacy underwear.” She says, a hardness of an unfulfilled hatred shielding her eyes for an instant. “And I like knowing things before anyone else. Come on! Indulge a poor, old lady!”

Emily looks around to check if there was someone overhearing their conversation leans over and says: “Ms. Perth, from the Chemistry department.”

“She’s into cats. Try to find a porcelain statuette, she loves those.” Marietta responds and the two of them share a laugh.

It was then that Zig entered the room. He looked forlornly at Emily, who faced him with an equal expression of heartache.

Sensing the awkwardness, Marietta calls out: “Mr. Ortega! Why don’t you join us?”

He coughs. “I’m sorry, Ms. Jones, I just remembered I have to stop by the library to check on some books that arrived this week.”

“No, please, stay.” Emily stands up. “I’m already finished either way. Thanks, Ms. Jones, for your kind offer.”

She walks to the door, her perfume brushing Zig’s nose on her way out. He, then, occupies the seat left vacant by the woman.

“That was painfully awkward.” Marietta says, looking pointedly at the burly man next to her.

“Yeah, well, what can I do if she prefers to frolic around with her jailbait excuse for a husband?” He said, bitterly.

The woman rolled her eyes. “You can fight, for one. Last I understood, she made it very clear she wanted to be with you.”

“It’s useless.” He grumbles. “What frustrates me is that every time I am close to get the girl, down struts Nathan Sterling, the third,” The man sneers the filial name. “And messes everything up.”

“That’s enough, Zigmund Ortega!” Marietta hits with her fist against the table. “I forbid you to hold a pity party for yourself! You’re going to stand up, act your own age, and go after what you want right this instant!”

He looks disinterested at the older woman and drawls: “You got any ideas?”

“In fact, I do.” She fished a small slip of paper out of her pocket and shows it to reveal Emily’s name. “I rigged the Secret Santa. Congratulations, you drew Emily! Now go out and buy a nice present that shows her all your love and care. Now!”

Nathan was enjoying a nice cup of tea, brewed to perfection by his own two hands, while reading a light book. He was by himself at the apartment, and the tall floor made the traffic bellow sound like a soft white noise machine.

His peace, however, was soon to be destroyed by what seemed a wind gust running through the front door: “Emily hasn’t come home yet, has her?”

The man sighed. “No, Soraya, she has not.”

She smirked and pulled a small bunch of notes. “Here’s your cut for our little bake sale. The fatties loved your ‘fat-free’,” She used arrogant air-quotes. “chocolate croissants.”

The blond man laughed derisively. “Thank you, they flatter me with their voraciousness towards my cooking.”

“Speaking of which, how’s your Friday night?” Queenie walks over to the kitchen to grab a water bottle and Nathan trails behind.

“Nothing much.” He responds.

“Congratulations, then. You’ll win our TV back on a raffle I’m organizing.” The older woman smiles wickedly. “It’s for the poor children whose families can’t afford Christmas, see?”

“Of course.” He smirked and shook his head. “What about Emily, though?”

“Don’t worry about her.” She dismissed. “She’ll be on a Secret Santa party with the other teachers.”

Nathan grimaces with the thought and Queenie looks pointedly at him. “I know what you’re doing.”

He looks at her with his patented derisiveness. “What?”

“You’re trying to web Emily back with you.” The woman declared, hard and cold like steel. “I don’t know why, if you are competitive to the point you can’t see anyone else to be with what you once considered yours, or if you hate her and can’t stand to see her happy.

“What I do know, though, is that you’re not going to succeed. My daughter is trusting, naïve and good. But she’s not stupid. You’ve done some terrible things, Nathan, and you don’t get to come back from that.”

He scoffed. “You’re wrong, Soraya.”

“Am I? Am I really?” She smirked and left the kitchen.

Nathan, now alone, contemplates the glass full with water laying abandoned on the counter.

Queenie was wrong.

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An Opera on Separation - Masterlist

[adanceacademy]

Dance plays a vital role when it comes to be fit. Ample people choose dance to be healthy. There are several forms of dance; one of them is ballet dance. Ballet dancing has an immense role to play in the fitness of adults as well as kids. There are umpteen health benefits of ballet dance. For acquiring more information you should have to have a glance here.

For garnering more information you must visit here:

https://www.jmdc.com.au/ballet-classes-perth/

[projectalbum]

First 100 down. 96. “Rockin’ the Suburbs,” 97. “Ben Folds Live,” 98. “Songs for Silverman,” 99. “Way to Normal,” 100. “Stems and Seeds,” 101. “Lonely Avenue,” 102. “So There” by Ben Folds

I owe Nick Hornby for the introduction.

The High Fidelity author’s collection of essays on pop music, Songbook, made the case for Ben Folds’ contributions to the canon in a chapter on “Smoke.” Hornby writes so persuasively, in a deceptively casual style that I’m perhaps a bit too pretentious to ever approach with my own pop culture writing. There’s a lot of music covered in his book that I failed to investigate on my own. But that particular passage must have triggered something in the back of my mind, some residual impression of “Brick,” perhaps, which sent me to the Web for those first BFF tracks (none of which were “Smoke,” by the way, though I agree with Hornby’s appraisal of its lyrical strength).

It quickly became a total fandom— I now have all the official LP’s, band and solo, and the EP’s are floating in the digital ether of hard drives and burned discs. I even bought the soundtrack to the little-remembered Dreamworks quirky CG animal picture Over The Hedge, to which Folds contributed several original tracks (a soundtrack that marked his most recent collaboration with William Shatner, a pairing that also yielded a full-length, Has Been, which is a simultaneously ironic AND unironic great listen.) No one is going to bestow the crown of ultimate Ben Folds fanboy on my head— I’ve ONLY seen him live twice, and neither time was even with a symphony orchestra! Nevertheless, I’ve been following his output for a good decade, and my record is solid.

His records are also solid (as is this excellent segue), exploring the outer limits of musical flavors available to a largely pop-oriented guy with a piano and an ear for harmony. Rockin’ the Suburbs (#96), his first post-Five record (exempting Fear of Pop: Volume 1, an experimental doodle from the era of the Messner recordings, which I only mention to smugly show off my bonafides yet again), incorporates synthesizer squeals, a Korn-parody guitar breakdown, treated keyboards, and strings, but his ivories are still at the forefront. His lyrics here are the ultimate template for the rest of his career, featuring: the irreverent humor of a class cut-up (like “Rockin’ The Suburbs’” self-aware chorus or the climactic, harmonized shout of “Motherfucker!” that ends “Fired”), the incisive character sketches of a short story author (“Fred Jones, Pt. 2” is a mini-masterpiece of well-observed details, but I think “Carrying Cathy” is downright shattering), and the delicate balance of sentiment any memoirist must strike (“Still Fighting It” hits the bullseye, but “The Luckiest” is a bit too goopy for me).

I have always had a big soft spot for Songs for Silverman (#98), which has been painted by some critics and BFF fans as a turn into mopey adult contemporary. There are a couple of skippable tracks, for sure, but it doesn’t sound as far from the old days as the doubters believe. After handling most of the instruments on Suburbs by himself, and doing a quite literal solo tour- just the man and his Baby Grand- as documented on the superb Ben Folds Live (#97), Folds missed the sonic chemistry that came from having a band in the studio. Though Jessee and Sledge had followed their own paths (the former touring with Sharon Van Etten, the latter adopting an existence of a lower key than the music business), Folds assembled a more than capable bass/drums duo to pump up the jazzy breakdown in “Bastard” and the chorus of “You to Thank.”

“Landed,” even without the orchestral strings that he later decided overwhelmed the melody, has rightfully earned its place in the classic Folds firmament. Hearing the introductory notes at my first Ben Folds show was enough to conjure a lump in my throat. Seemed weird for me to get unduly emotional about it: the chorus is upbeat (complete with signature “Ba-ba-ba-ba”s) and the story of a man emerging from a controlling relationship is not something I’ve experienced or even witnessed, so I can only interpret this as a reaction to the beauty of hearing a masterful pop song.

As the Web became more of a presence in daily life, and piracy was taking huge bites out of the music industry, Folds ably kept pace with the evolving relationship between an artist and his fans. That included embracing the nascent social media networks- which by the mid-2000s meant MySpace- and posting new music before it hit the streets. During my first couple years of college, I had one of these tricked-out profiles myself. This may have been the way I first heard, in 2008, the “fake” tracks.

Alternately crude and tremblingly earnest, they were a collection of “leaked” songs ostensibly from Folds’ forthcoming album, Way To Normal (#99). There was “Bitch Went Nutz,” a 1st person narrative about a Republi-bro scandalized in front of his peers by his Anarcho-Socialist fuck buddy that plays like the most profane “Weird Al” Yankovic pastiche ever. And “Cologne (Piano Orchestra Version),” a stunningly pretty concerto-ballad that gets absurdly overblown with a chanting male chorus and a dozen keyboards playing at once. And a handful of winkingly self-serious social justice ballads. All written and recorded, it was later revealed, in about a day, and launched into the bootleg blogosphere as a prank.

These were eventually officially released on Stems and Seeds (#100), alongside alternately-mastered versions of the “real” songs. The legitimate tracks found on the official LP are only slightly more tasteful, with a somewhat explicit Divorce Record vibe on kiss-offs like “You Don’t Know Me” (with Regina Spektor lending her magic) and “Brainwascht” (about the battle lines that can be drawn between mutual friends of split couples). When the lyrics are slightly regrettable (like the stereotype-mining “Bitch Went Nuts”), the melodies usually carry it. Exceptions would be the intentionally-grating “Errant Dog,” and the limp celebrity satire “Free Coffee” (skippable on record, but in live shows, Folds illustrates how he gets the treated piano sound by placing Altoids tins on his strings, which is a bit of nerdy fun).

Things came pleasingly full circle when it was announced that Folds was co-writing an entire album with Nick Hornby. The mutual appreciation society of these two artists had become a collaboration outlined right on Lonely Avenue's (#101) cover art: “Ben Folds Adds Music and Melody to Nick Hornby’s Words.” It’s a magical working relationship mirrored in their biographical tribute “Doc Pomus,” about the irascible musician who penned classic rock standards like “This Magic Moment” and “Save The Last Dance For Me” alongside Mort Shuman. This sense of pop history permeates 70’s-influenced arrangements like “Password” and “Belinda,” the latter about a Manilow-esque crooner reflecting on the love that inspired his greatest hit, who he callously abandoned for a fling with a flight attendant sporting “big breasts, a nice smile, [and] no kids, either.”

My 2 favorite tracks are a study in tonal opposites: “Claire’s Ninth,” a delicately affecting portrait of a young girl in the middle of a chilly but courteous divorce, and “Saskia Hamilton,” a gleefully nerdy ode to the most phonetically pleasing poet’s name ever. Their musical commonality is that neither one is a slow-tempo plaintive ballad, which have their place, but are the Folds tunes that I tend to skip in his later releases. “Claire’s” chords are jazzy and gently driving, with gorgeous vocal harmonies in the chorus; “Saskia” is frantic, driven by old school Moog synthesizer, with quirky flourishes like the female opera singer making a vocal cameo in the breakdown— it feels like a mutual homage between the song’s authors to “Weird Al”’s more esoteric original compositions.

So There (#102), while technically reaching full-length status with the inclusion of a real-deal “Concerto For Piano and Orchestra,” feels oddly slight. It was hyped by the artist himself as a unique new collaboration: pianist and new classical ensemble making pop songs together. He had experience with performing full-orchestra arrangements of his older songs (as on the excellent DVD “Ben Folds and WASO Live in Perth”) and overdubbing strings on new recordings, but this he advertised as a from-the-jump co-written project with yMusic, a sextet of players bringing strings, woodwinds, and brass. The Chamber Pop tracks that result have their delicate beauty, but the album resists falling into a snoozy easy-listening trap by alternating the ballads with the kind of sprightly, pazz and jop numbers that similarly kept Silverman moving.

It’s all just so… pleasant, and it seems to slip out of my mind and soon as I’ve heard it. If you were to strip-mine it for a Ben Folds playlist, I would pick out the title track for one, with its trilling strings, burbling brass, and father/daughter harmonizing. The instrumental section after the first chorus- what it might be appropriate to call the 2nd Movement- gets closest to fulfilling the promise inherent in the album’s Chamber Pop experiment. I might sound overly harsh on this release— re-listening to it while writing this post, there’s nothing that’s a huge turnoff, or a waste of time (except maybe the metaphorically one-note novelty track “F10-D-A,” which, granted, doesn’t outstay its welcome, running a second under 2 minutes). However, nothing there really sets my heart on fire like the first time I heard the swirling arpeggio of “Zak and Sara” (first through the raucous solo piano version on Live, then the filled-out studio recording on Suburbs), or the chorus of “Landed,” or first “ba ba BA ba ba ba!”ed my heart out as a human “Army" trumpet in the crowd of my first Ben Folds show.

[joanneadunbar-blog]

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