Ben Folds Five - The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner (1999/2017) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner is the third and final studio album released by Ben Folds Five before their break up in 2000. Folds’ unique and clever piano-based songwriting shines through on the album, with songs and arrangements that reflect his evolving artistic development. The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, with its title humorously taken from the name used on drummer Darren Jessee’s former teenage fake ID, includes singles “Army” and “Don’t Change Your Plans,” and is regarded by the composer himself as the band's “best work.” As the highly-anticipated follow up to the platinum-selling Whatever & Ever Amen, the album was initially dismissed by critics. In subsequent years however, it received a critical reevaluation and has become the hidden gem of Folds catalog.

The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner has since been out of print on vinyl for 15 years and is now, for the first time ever, being reissued on HighResAudio sourced from the original mix reels. Remastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.

Tracklist:
1. Narcolepsy 05:24
2. Don't Change Your Plans 05:11
3. Mess 04:03
4. Magic 04:02
5. Hospital Song 02:05
6. Army 03:25
7. Your Redneck Past 03:43
8. Your Most Valuable Possession 01:55
9. Regrets 04:07
10. Jane 02:42
11. Lullabye 03:53

Personnel:
Ben Folds, vocals, piano
Ken Mosher, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone
Paul Shapiro, tenor saxophone
Tom Maxwell, tenor saxophone
John Mark Painter, Flugelhorn, valve trombone
Bucky Baxter, guitar
Jane Scarpantoni, cello
Antoine Silverman, violin
Lorenza Ponce, violin
Mark Feldman, violin
Jared Reynolds, bass, vocals
John Mark Painter, bass
Lindsay Jamieson, drums, vocals

Recorded at Sound City Studios (Los Angeles), Grandmaster Studios (Los Angeles), Water Music (Hoboken, NJ) and RPM Studios (NYC), November 1998 - January 1999
Producer and recorded by Caleb Southern

Digitally remastered