Ben Folds himself is singer-songwriter, but Ben Folds as a genre can be described as comedic piano rock with the occasional ballad. Strong piano-driven melodies, key smashing, orchestration, and drum + bass elements can all be found within the Ben Folds genre. Music following Ben's earlier endeavors can be more fast paced and pop-ish, more of that "punk rock for sissies" feel that Folds described Ben Folds Five as. Think music like Rockin' The Suburbs or Way To Normal. Music following Ben's later albums is more orchestrated, using strings and raw emotional lyrics along with the signature piano, closer to So There and What Matters Most than the aforementioned Rockin' The Suburbs or Way To Normal. .
