You can't help but be charmed by Ben Fold's specific brand of piano pop. Even though the now TV Judge probably doesn't have a ton of time for a Ben Folds Five reunion, he does have time to record rarities for his forthcoming compilation, The Best Imitation Of Myself: A Retrospective, a career-spanning collection of tunes available 10/11 via Sony Legacy. Ben got the band back together to record a few tracks, including "House" and "Tell Me What I Did", a reportedly uber-rare BFF song that only made a brief appearance once in Scranton in the year 2000 (according to Ben Folds superfan and 'Gum head honcho Scott Lapatine). We'll take his word for it. "Tell Me What I Did" and especially "House" are more of the same earnest Folds songwriting, and also happen to be just a taste of the other rare/unreleased gems on the three disc set. See the tracklist below.


The Best Imitation Of Myself: A Retrospective:
CD1:

01 "Brick (Radio Mix)" (with Ben Folds Five)
02 "Annie Waits"
03 "Philosophy" (with Ben Folds Five)
04 "Underground" (with Ben Folds Five)
05 "Landed (Strings Version)"
06 "One Angry Dwarf And 200 Solemn Faces" (with Ben Folds Five)
07 "Dont Change Your Plans" (with Ben Folds Five)
08 "The Luckiest"
09 "Smoke" (with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra)
10 "Rockin The Suburbs"
11 "Kate" (with Ben Folds Five)
12 "Gracie"
13 "Still Fighting It (Extended Version)"
14 "You Dont Know Me" (feat. Regina Spektor)
15 "Theres Always Someone Cooler Than You"
16 "Still"
17 "From Above" (with lyrics by Nick Hornby)
18 "House" (with Ben Folds Five)

CD2:
Live (1997 2011)

01 "Julianne" (with Ben Folds Five)
02 "Video" (with Ben Folds Five)
03 "Song For The Dumped" (with Ben Folds Five)
04 "Missing The War" (with Ben Folds Five)
05 "Mess" (with Ben Folds Five)
06 "Magic" (with Ben Folds Five)
07 "Selfless, Cold And Composed"
08 "Zak and Sara"
09 "Girl"
10 "Just Pretend" (with the Bens)
11 "Fred Jones Part 2? (with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra)
12 "Careless Whisper" (feat. Rufus Wainwright)
13 "All U Can Eat"
14 "Long Tall Texan"
15 "Army" (with Ben Folds Five)
16 "Battle Of Who Could Care Less" (with Ben Folds Five)
17 "Kylie From Connecticut"
18 "Effington"
19 "Picture Window"
20 "Sentimental Guy"
21 "Not The Same"

CD3:
Rarities (1991 2011)

01 "Unrelated"
02 "Best Imitation Of Myself"
03 "Rocky"
04 "Boxing"
05 "Julianne" (with Ben Folds Five)
06 "Evaporated" (with Ben Folds Five)
07 "Alice Childress"
08 "Barrytown" (with Ben Folds Five)
09 "Amelia Bright" (with Ben Folds Five)
10 "Tell Me What I Did" (with Ben Folds Five)
11 "Rock Star"
12 "Losing Lisa"
13 "Break Up At Food Court"
14 "Wandering"
15 "Hiros Song"
16 "The Secret Life Of Morgan Davis (Alternate Mix"
17 "Such Great Heights (Alternate Mix"
18 "Bitches Aint Shit"
19 "Time (Alternate Version)"
20 "Sleazy"
21 "Because The Origami" (with 8in8)
22 "Stumblin' Home Winter Blues" (with Ben Folds Five)

"House":

audio player

Hear "Tell Me What I Did" over at Stereogum.

And finally, presented for your viewing pleasure, always and forever my favorite Ben Folds tune.