Music Review: Ben Folds Five "Brick"

Brick
Album: Whatever And Ever Amen
Year: 1997

In a fulfilling short story, all characters feel like real people. At the end, readers are wondering what happened with them long after the story is over. It’s been six years and the young people in Ben Folds Five’s “Brick” still linger.

“Brick” follows a young couple dealing with an abortion. Ben Folds starts the song the morning of the procedure, noting the “smell of the cold, car seat is freezing and I am numb.” However, they don’t know how to deal with it. Neither speaks to the other the way there. He feels that he’s alone more than ever. Eventually, their parents find out after some problems arise with the young woman. By the end, both have grown up and changed.

Driven by only a piano and an organ accompaniment, Ben Folds dwells on the emotion of the lyrics. He is somber throughout. However when he sings the chorus, “she’s a brick and I’m drowning slowly,” he’s composed and mature. Heartbreaking and dire, “Brick” is a life lesson told with raw emotion and truth.

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