The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner
Ben Folds Five
- Artist
- Ben Folds Five
- Label
- 550 Music
- Catalog number
- ABK 69808
- Released
- 1999
- Country
- US
- Format
- Album · Promo
What’s on it
The Unauthorized Biography Of Reinhold Messner has 11 tracks, about 40:30 of music. Open a track to see who wrote, played on and produced it.
1Narcolepsy
- Violin
- John Mark Painter
2Don't Change Your Plans
- Flugelhorn
- John Mark Painter
- 3Mess
4Magic
- Written-By
- Darren Jessee
- 5Hospital Song
6Army
- Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
- Ken Mosher
- Flugelhorn, Valve Trombone
- John Mark Painter
- Tenor Saxophone
- Paul Shapiro, Tom Maxwell
- Trumpet
- Frank London
- 7Your Redneck Past
8Your Most Valuable Possession
- Written-By
- Caleb Southern, Darren Jessee, Dean Folds, Robert Sledge
- 9Regrets
- 10Jane
11Lullabye
- Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
- Ken Mosher
- Tenor Saxophone
- Tom Maxwell
- Written-By
- Anna Goodman
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Released in 1999 as the third and final studio album from the trio Ben Folds Five, The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner marked a significant stylistic departure for the band. Moving away from the high-energy, piano-driven pop of their previous records, the album embraced a more cinematic, melancholic, and experimental sound. Ben Folds composed the material with the intention of exploring themes of isolation and the dissolution of the band itself, crafting a narrative-heavy work that remains a cult favorite among fans of 1990s alternative rock.
The album's distinct title refers to the Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner, a metaphor chosen by Folds to represent the pursuit of seemingly impossible, solitary goals. While the band received critical acclaim for the album's sophisticated arrangements and intricate production, the commercial performance was modest compared to their breakout success. The project is often cited as a pivotal moment in the transition between the band's initial run and Folds' subsequent solo career, cementing its legacy as a complex, introspective piece of chamber pop.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
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