Ben Folds - Original Album Classics (2011)

American singer, songwriter, and producer Ben Folds emerged in the mid-'90s as the leader of the power pop trio Ben Folds Five, before striking out on a successful solo career in 2001. His knack for crafting engaging melodies paired with lyrics that can go from heartbreakingly earnest to biting and sarcastic helped to fuel his slow dive into the mainstream, from piano-climbing college rock upstart to commercial crooner and likable (and knowledgeable) co-judge on NBC's hit a cappella singing competition series The Sing-Off. Since debuting in 1995 with the eponymous Ben Folds Five, Folds has released a string of acclaimed albums, including the platinum-selling Whatever and Ever Amen (1997), the chart-topping Songs for Silverman (2005) and Way to Normal (2008), and The Sound of the Life of the Mind (2012), the latter of which saw him reconvening Ben Folds Five and skillfully merging his snarky, punk-infused past with the more accessible, ballad-heavy output of his solo career. In addition to his own work, Folds has collaborated with a wide array of artists, including William Shatner, Sara Bareilles, and Regina Spektor, and authors Nick Hornby and Neil Gaiman.