Review: Ben Folds and Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue (Nonesuch)
WHAT a lovely record. Mutual fans Ben Folds of the band Ben Folds Five and our own Nick Hornby, novelist behind Fever Pitch and About A Boy as well as the Oscar-nominated screenplay for An Education, get together and do a record.
As with Elton John and Bernie Taupin, the lyrics come first, sent to Ben, who puts them to music.
The result? Magic. Songs such as Picture Window are so touching they give you the chills while the sound is generally a little like the great Seventies American singer/songwriters, your Billy Joels and Rupert Holmeses. Heavenly.
Verdict: 4/5
