Seeing that yesterday Ben Folds released a new album, Way to Normal, made me reminisce a bit about when I first discovered Folds, back when he, Darren Jesse and Robert Sledge made up the alliterative but innacurately-named Ben Folds Five. Back when I was in 10th grade, I recall seeing the video for BFF’s “Battle of Who Could Care Less” on MTV’s late great 120 Minutes show. A little bit Joe Jackson, a little bit Pavement — hell, a little bit Billy Joel -– Ben Folds Five’s piano-driven indie pop was a unique gem back in those days, before bands like Cold War Kids had CDs available in Target.

“Battle of Who Could Care Less” was the first single off Whatever and Ever Amen, an album that would become hugely popular a few months later when “Brick” became a soft rock radio hit. But it was this first single that drew me in and sent me down to the indie record store. Listening to it now, lines like “See, I’ve got your old ID and you’re all dressed up like The Cure,” seem all the more genius.

Ben Folds Five: Battle of Who Could Care Less: