Ben Folds' Toga Party-Friendly A Cappella Album Out In April

Back in October Ben Folds announced to the world that he was "scouting a college a capella group":http://mog.com/Charley_Rogulewski/blog/216266 for his next album in hopes of bringing to light "unique nuances and perspective that is necessarily absent from the original recordings as the songwriter and singer happen to be the same guy." Okaaaaaay... Flash forward some 5 months later, after Folds, his wife Fleur and arranger Joe Costa jet-setted to campuses across the U.S. finally ending up with the album Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!

Some of the a cappella groups that rearranged Folds classics into non-instrumental numbers for the album include UNC Chapel Hill's Loreleis, The University of Georgia's With Someone Else's Money and my very own alma mater the Universtiy of Colorado, whose Buffoons harmozine on Folds' Songs for Silverman track "Landed."

Folds himself calls this more of a Ben Folds greatest hits album. "This is not a novelty. I consider this my new record. I'm incredibly proud of this," he said in a statement. "I'd rather this be my greatest hits record than someone collecting my masters and slapping on a photo of me leaning against a piano."

Of the 16 tracks on Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! two - "Boxing" and "Effington" - were arranged sans instrument by Folds himself. The songs were recorded in Folds' studio but the other frat- tastic tracks were taped in dorms, university recital halls, a student's living room and even a synagogue. Given all the non-traditional recording elements a collegiate videographer was on hand to tape it all for a future documentary. Many of the a cappella groups will open select dates throughout Ben Folds' future tour. Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella! is out April 28th via Epic Records.

BEN FOLDS PRESENTS: UNIVERSITY A CAPPELLA! - TRACKLISTING:

1. NOT THE SAME - The Spartones from Greensboro, NC.
Arranged by Chris Juengel / Recorded in Swain Hall (UNC - Chapel Hill)

2. JESUSLAND - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Loreleis
Arranged by Emily Riehl and Marianne Cheng / Recorded in Swain Hall (UNC - Chapel Hill)

3. BRICK -The Ohio University Leading Tones
Arranged by Brian Powers / Ohio University School of Music's Recital Hall

4. YOU DON'T KNOW ME - The University of Georgia's With Someone Else's Money
Arranged by Jonathan Sparks / Recorded in Ben's studio

5. STILL FIGHTING IT - Washington University in St. Louis's Mosaic Whispers
Arranged by: Mark Partridge / Recorded in the 560 Music Building - Recital Hall (Washington University)

6. BOXING - Ben Folds
Arranged by Ben Folds / Recorded in Ben's studio

7. SELFLESS, COLD, AND COMPOSED - The Sacramento State Jazz Singers
Arranged by Kerry Marsh / Recorded in Capistrano Hall, Jazz Rehearsal Room (Sacramento State)

8. MAGIC - The University of Chicago's Voices In Your Head
Arranged by Chris Rishel / Recorded in Chris Rishel's living room

9. LANDED - The University of Colorado Buffoons
Arranged by Misha Levental / Recorded at Coupe Studios

10. TIME - The Princeton Nassoons
Arranged by Jonathan Schwartz / Recorded in Mathey College Common Room (Princeton University)

11. EFFINGTON - Ben Folds
Arranged by Ben Folds / Recorded in Ben's studio

12. EVAPORATED - The Newtones from Newton, MA
Arranged by Joel Esher / Recorded in Wellesley Chapel (Wellesley College)

13. FRED JONES PART 2 - The West Chester University of Pennsylvania Gracenotes
Arranged by Courtney Park / Recorded in Mathey College Common Room (Princeton University)

14. ARMY - The University of Rochester Midnight Ramblers
Arranged by Brad Hartman & Dan Gross / Recorded in Havens Lounge, Wilson Commons (University of Rochester)

15. FAIR - University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire's Fifth Element
Arranged by Joe Holtan / Recorded in Masters Recording Institute's Studio A

16. THE LUCKIEST - The Washington University in St. Louis Amateurs
Arranged by: Joe Argus / Recorded in the 560 Building ballroom (Washington University)