With "Whatever and Ever Amen" hovering somewhere in the forties on the Billboard Hot 100 list at press time, it would seem that the release of a second, bare-all release of rare studio and live music would be perceived as poorly timed. But with "Ben Folds Five" receiving significant air play on Alternative and Mainstream radio stations as well as television, the timing couldn't be better. New fans and hangers-on alike will find plenty to crow about with "Naked Baby Photos".

For those who don't already know, "Ben Folds Five" consists of three members: Robert Sledge plays Bass, Darren Jessee plays drums and Ben Folds absolutely stuns on the Piano and lead vocals. They've been around for a few years, with two full-length albums and several singles and E.P.'s. They've always been known for their stage presence and have amassed enough of a live following to be considered one of the bands to see on the road. (See AMZ's coverage of a recent live gig in this issue).

What is "Naked Baby Photos" all about? Well, the title kind of explains it all -- at least in a round about way. This disc is something like a scrapbook of the band so far. It contains all sorts of musical snippets, some short and rough around the edges, some much smoother and well-produced. There are live tracks here and even a couple demos that you won't find anywhere else. Usually this kind of release has 'collectors only' written all over it -- often it's a bootleg and/or not sanctioned by the band. But in the case of "Naked Baby Photos", not only is the band behind the venture, but there's something in it for everyone -- from die hard fan to total newcomer.

In general, I find "Ben Folds Five" to be a tremendously entertaining band. Their lyrics are smart and very well-created, but at the same time, they're not overly serious or pretentious. As a matter of fact, a couple tracks on "Naked Baby Photos" actually made me laugh out loud. Musically, this band can go up against anybody on the scene today -- especially Ben Folds, who really knows how to tear up a piano!

The first half of "Naked Baby Photos" is all studio stuff. It begins with "Eddie Walker", a previously unreleased track. "Eddie Walker" sells this album -- it has a hooky melody, and very tight, smart lyrics that bore a resemblance to the theme song of the '80's sitcom "Cheers." I found myself gravitating back to this song quite often while reviewing the disc -- it's just a really great song and has to be heard to be appreciated. Other notables on the first half include "Emaline" and "Tom and Mary", two other witty, well-written tracks. The sense of humor really kicks in on "For Those of Y'all Who Wear Fanny Packs", the band's impromptu attempt at funky Hip Hop.

The second half of the disc is chock-full of rare live tracks, performed all over the place. I especially enjoyed "The Ultimate Sacrifice" which is a tongue-in-cheek attempt at sounding 'Heavy Metal'. Folds belts the lyrics in a screamy falsetto that really gets the crowd going. "The Ultimate Sacrifice" ends with a crooned version of the ultimate Junior-high bathroom rhyme which begins "Here I sit, lonely hearted . . ." This song is a riot! "Satan is my Master" is another humorous song. Listen carefully to the lyrics -- they're good for at least a chuckle. "Julianne" is a little bit more serious, another hint at the band's versatility and riveting stage presence.

Since "Naked Baby Photos" is a disc of the unusual and rare, I won't give everything away for those who haven't already heard it. I will however say that this album is a must for "Ben Folds Five" fans due to the collectible tracks within. But unlike most collectibles, it's not just for the well-initiated. Even the newcomer will enjoy this disc. Listen to a decent Alternative radio station for a day and you will probably hear "Ben Folds Five". If you like what you hear, definitely pick up "Naked Baby Photos". It's definitely worth a try!