I like all of his albums.

Ben Folds Five (first one) is a very fun, raucus set that will have you rolling in places, and yet it is not without its "serious" side.  Quirky, college fun is to be had with the single "Underground," which I love for its surprise-jazz ending.

Whatever and Ever Amen shows the guys gaining some much-deserved acclaim and features their biggest hit, I believe, the rather sad single "Brick."  I prefer several of the other tunes on this excellent record.  It's not as jumpy as the first one, but we'll always have the first one for that.

Naked Baby Pictures is a collection of outtakes and so on.  Collectors only, methinks.  Fun though.

Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Meisner had quite a few nice moments, but did not last for me.  I definitely would not start a new listener off with this one.  On the other hand, it has some really nice touches, so maybe its one to put on the "next year" list.

Ben Folds Five did not last past the Meisner record--after that Folds decided to put out solo recordings.  His first, Rockin the Suburbs, had the dubious distinction of being released on 9/11.  It is a chirpy little record, with some very good songs on it, but for my money it's not quite as good as the three solo single discs he has released, which led up to the most recent solo album, Songs for Silverman.  Excellent album, haunting at times.

Folds sells his stuff directly at http://www.attackedbyplastic.com

Herring405