Ben Folds Five - Ben Folds Five (30th Anniversary) [2LP]

Ben Folds Five's self-titled debut turns thirty with this newly remastered anniversary edition, spread across two 180-gram LPs.

Back in 1995, the record introduced a Chapel Hill trio with no guitarist and plenty of nerve: Ben Folds hammering a piano like it owed him money, Robert Sledge's fuzzed-out bass and Darren Jessee's nimble drumming. Producer Caleb Southern recorded them in North Carolina, and the album's wit and punk-tinged energy set off a label bidding war that changed their fortunes.

"Underground" is the anthem for every misfit who never quite fit the cool crowd, while "Philosophy" bounces with jazzy swagger and a knowing wink. Elsewhere, the songs swing from bratty to heartbroken and back again without missing a beat.

The second LP is the real treasure for longtime fans. Titled Shelved First Attempt, it presents a previously unreleased early version of the album, recently rediscovered by Folds on digital audio tape. Produced by Dave "Stiff" Johnson, it features alternate takes of seven album songs, an early run at "Evaporated" and rare outtakes including "Emaline."

Thirty years on, this set captures both the band that almost was and the one that broke through, side by side on a pair of discs that tell the whole origin story.