Liner Note Author: Ben Folds.

Photographers: Ben Folds; Ingvar Renne.

Released in 2006, SUPERSUNNYSPEEDGRAPHIC is a Ben Folds compilation that largely consists of EPs (including SUNNY 16 and SPEED GRAPHIC) issued by the alt piano man's own Attacked By Plastic label. Although the disc lacks the cohesiveness of many of Folds's other albums, it does feature entertaining rarities, most notably his reggae-tinged take on the Darkness's "Get Your Hands Off My Woman," his buoyant version of the Cure's "In Between Days," and the dreamy "Still," from the soundtrack to the animated film OVER THE HEDGE. While not the best introduction to Folds's amiable, pop-savvy aesthetic, SUPERSUNNY is a fine example of his artistic range, which goes so far as to include a tongue-in-cheek Dr. Dre cover.

When Ben Folds cleans out his refrigerator, the leftovers that come spilling out of the rotten lettuce encrusted crisper may taste a bit better than most, but they're still leftovers. Supersunnyspeedgraphic: The LP collects the best moments from 2003's Speed Graphic and Sunny 16, 2004's Bens ( Ben Lee, Ben Kweller and Folds) and Super D, and 2005's Landed. For the most part, these EPs contained fairly vintage funny/whimsical/bitter/poignant/foul-mouthed for the sake of irony-Ben Folds with some typically eclectic covers thrown in for good measure. From the pure Good Old Boys-era Randy Newman-esque "All You Can Eat" to the sticky-sweet '70s balladry of "Learn to Live with What You Are," Folds can either infuriate or charm the pants off of you, depending on which camp you're in, but the force-fed irony of Snoop Dogg's "Bitches Ain't Shit" and the Darkness' "Get Your Hands Off My Woman" keep better attempts at the tribute song, like the Cure's "In Between Days" and the Divine Comedy's excellent "Songs of Love" from looking good enough to eat. ~ James Christopher Monger