Singer/songwriter Ben Folds [ tickets ] has said that being in the studio following his two-year divorce made him feel like a champagne bottle that finally popped after 18 months of shaking. Snarky, perky and frenzied, Folds' third LP, "Way to Normal," is a celebration of his newfound freedom and return to self.

A giddy, oftentimes goofy, intellectual mix of ballads, raucous key-pounding and pop-minded sing-alongs, "Way to Normal" reveals the wide range of moods he is capable of articulating--sometimes in a single song. Poking fun at faux New Agers, crazy women and even himself, Folds sounds refreshingly open and uncensored.

His earnest tenor vocals, up-tempo melodies and wit create a perfect blend of optimism, poetic sincerity, and jokes and jabs. Quirky indie starlet Regina Spektor joins Folds for "You Don't Know Me," a touching contemplation about lovers who realize they don't know the most important things about each other. "We're damned by the existential moment where we saw the couple in the coma/And it was we were the cliche, but we carried on anyway," they sing. It's one of the most poignant, sobering tunes on the album.

The elegant piano chords and utter somberness of "Cologne" almost disguise random lyrics, like when Folds references the former astronaut who put on a diaper and drove 18 hours to kill her husband.
"Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head)" is a firecracker crowd-involving anthem that's recaptures an incident in Japan when Folds fell off stage and landed on his head. The album is at its boldest during "Bitch Went Nuts," a fast-paced, funny track that promises mainstream appeal for dumped dudes everywhere. It was also a song that Folds almost booted from the record because it was the first time he'd written a song with the word "bitch" in it, but he decided it was just too fun to discard.

In promotional material for the album, Folds claims that "Way to Normal" is the best time he's had recording ... and it's a feeling that will most definitely translate to listeners.