With the piano-based pop of The Straw Theory, comparisons with Ben Folds Five are inevitable; they're also largely unfair. The Straw Theory weaves complex dramas of spirituality and the human condition, a thoughtful discussion of the Christian life in modern America, and undercurrents of melancholy joy and hopeful sadness - is just fresh-sounding enough to send listeners scrambling for comparisons.
Several of the songs balance against one another, poking at an idea from more than one direction. For example, three songs are about various stages of self-esteem: The swaggering "Joker's Wilde" is about struggling with self-doubt, which can be exacerbated by an unsupportive church family; the floating "Man on the Moon," with guest vocals by Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer, dreams of the idealized self in Christ; "Star Struck" warns of overconfidence, promising to always trust in God (echoed later in "Reasons").
These are followed by the two-sided coin "Easy" and "Falling Forward" (which has Hit Single written all over it); the former warns of allowing the gifts God gives us to become idols in themselves, while the latter rejoices that God can use even our very failings to help us grow closer to Him.
Although the group sticks close to the piano, they do thicken the stew in a number of ways, including the prominence of the electric guitar (from the bracing, dark solo in "Joker's Wilde" to the rhythmic counterpoint in "Falling Forward") and the extra boost of a lush, cinematic string section.
While the complexity of The Straw Theory is artful and compelling, careless listeners may become confused. And those uncomfortable with such Bible books as Job and even certain Psalms may find sections of the album to be kind of a downer (even their romantic song is called "Mournful Love"). But those searching for a soundtrack for the whole of the Christian life - doubt and faith, worship and tears - will find something for just about every mood on The Straw Theory. Let's see Ben Folds do that.